Paris, France — The third B-race leading up to the Prix d’Amerique is the Prix de Bourgogne, to be raced Sunday afternoon (Jan. 1) at Vincennes.

This race is a sprint race in French opinion, as the distance is 2100 meters or 1-5/16 miles, and that is the shortest distance for a race at Vincennes.

There is a full field of 18 trotters behind the gate and the home team of 11 is challenged by five Italian trotters, one Norwegian and one North American — Beads.

Beads was a positive surprise in the second qualification race, the Prix de Bourbonnais, where he was leading the field until 100 yards before the finish line. However, Beads will race from the second tier behind the gate, and that can cause a problem for the fast trotter.

The total purse is 200,000 Euro and the first three finishers get a wild card for the Prix d’Amerique.

Below is the field:

1. Cokstile (NO) – V P Dell’Annunziata
2. Gu d’Heripre (FR) – Benjamin Rochard
3. Flamme du Goutier (FR) – Theo Duvaldestin
4. Etonnant (FR) – Anthony Barrier
5. Delia du Pommereux (FR) – Pierre Yves Verva
6. Zarenne Fas (IT)– Eric Raffin
7. Vernissage Grif (IT) – Alessandro Gocciadoro
8. Bleff Dipa (IT) – Alexandre Abrivard
9. Hooker Berry (FR) – T. Ouvrie
10. Hussard du Landret (FR) – Benoit Robin
11. Ampia Mede SM (IT) – Franck Nivard
12. Fakir de Mahey (FR) – Matthieu Mottier
13. Beads (US) – Yoann Lebourgeois
14. Decoloration (FR) – Gabriele Gelormini
15. Heraut d’Armes (FR) – Jean Michel Bazire
16. Hokkaido Jiel (FR) – David Thomain
17. Violetto Jet (IT) – Franck Ouvrie
18. Hanna des Molles (FR) – Laurent Claude Abrivard

Already qualified are:

Ampia Mede SM (IT)
Etonnant (FR)
Hip Hop Haufor (FR)
Hooker Berry (FR)
Horsy Dream (FR)
Hussard de Landret (FR)
Idao de Tillard (FR)
Italiano Vero (FR)