by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Senior Newsroom Correspondent

Propulsion, driven by Ôrjan Kihlström and trained by Daniel Redén, was an easy winner of the third qualifying race for the Prix d’Amerique, the Prix de Bourgogne, raced Sunday (Dec. 31) at Vincennes. Propulsion was in command most of the race and Kihlström never had to ask him for more down the stretch.

Gerard Forni photo

Propulsion defeats French Triple Crown winner Bold Eagle to qualify for the Prix d’Amerique.

Propulsion won the 1-5/16-mile event in 1.53.2 (mile rate) followed by the big favorite Bold Eagle, driven by Franck Nivard, who was one length behind. The third place finisher was Briac Dark, driven by Matthieu Abrivard, and he just like Propulsion is now qualified to race in the Prix d’Amerique. Bold Eagle earned his spot earlier.

Propulsion, who is sired by Muscle Hill and out of 2007 Hambletonian Oaks winner Danae, was bred by Fredericka V. Caldwell and Bluestone Farms. He was sold to Brixton Medical Ab to compete in Sweden during the summer of 2015.

He is a half sibling to world champion D’Orsay (Yankee Glide, $445,732) and a full sibling to the talented Dream Together ($459,859).

Propulsion had a mark of 1.52.1 in the United States and was a $250,000 purchase at the 2012 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. He earned $86,178 while in his home country under the care of Tony Alagna, but in July 2017 he won the Aabergs Memorial at Jägersro in a new European record of 1.49.3f.

This was the third consecutive race that Bold Eagle was beaten to second and as for now the Prix d’Amerique looks very open. But Bold Eagle didn’t get the best trip today, so he is definitely not out of the picture.

The last and fourth qualification race, the Prix de Belgique, will be raced in a fortnight at Vincennes.