The 5-year-old Jushua Tree, trained and driven by Jean Michel Bazire, is the next French superstar.

On Saturday afternoon (Jan. 13), Jushua Tree won the prestigious Prix de Croix at Vincennes easily, timed in 1:56.4 (mile rate) followed by a length by Sweden’s Joviality S with Benjamin Rochard.

Jushua Tree has already earned himself a spot in the upcoming Prix d’Amerique but will skip that race and instead race in a fortnight in the Prix Bold Eagle at Vincennes.

Joviality S, who made a fine impression and shadowed Jushua Tree for the last half-mile, will probably race again on the Prix d’Amerique weekend, either in the Prix Bold Eagle or in the big dance, Prix d’Amerique.

On Sunday (Jan. 14), the last qualification race for the Prix d’Amerique will be raced at Vincennes at 9:15 a.m. (EST). Live video from the race can be found at www.letrot.com.