by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

Lou Guida’s top Italian trotter Lisa America is sidelined as a blood test has shown that the 6-year-old mare has an infection.

Lisa America was supposed to race next Sunday (Jan. 16) in the Prix Tenor de Baune at Vincennes as a last test before the Prix d’Amerique on Jan. 30.

“It doesn’t make sense to race a horse which is not fit in such a big race,” her trainer Jerry Riordan said.

Lisa America last raced on Dec. 26 in Rome, where she finished fifth as the heavy favorite.