by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

Paris, France — The 6-year-old French trotter Ready Cash, driven by Franck Nivard, was an impressive winner of the Prix d’Amerique at Vincennes on Sunday afternoon (Jan. 30).

Gerard Forni photo

Ready Cash (#15) held off Maharajah (#13) to win the Prix d’Amerique.

Ready Cash had to trot outside the leader, Maharajah of Sweden, and when the field turned for home it looked as though Maharajah was going to win. But then Nivard made his move and suddenly Ready Cash was two lengths in front.

But the race wasn’t over.

Maharajah came back on the outside, but Ready Cash fought back and at the wire he won by three-quarters of a length in 1:56 (mile rate).

The 2011 Prix d’Amerique was a “true run race” and the best trotter won.

Ready Cash has been the best trotter in his crop, but he has had very big problems with his temper. He was trained at Grosbois, where more than 1,400 horses are stabled and Ready Cash was in distress.

Therefore, owner/trainer Philippe Allaire transferred Ready Cash to his colleague, Thierry Duvaldestin, who trains in the countryside and that has helped quite a lot.

Maharajah was the favorite and he gave his followers a run for the money.

Olga du Biwetz, one of the eight mares in the field, finished strongly to be third ahead of last year’s winner, Oyonnax, while Quaker Jet was a distant fifth.

The French Quintét, which has a turnover of more than $25 million, paid one of the lowest prices ever — 100-1 — to select the first five finishers in correct order.