Idao de Tillard defended his title in the Prix d'Amérique, taking the 104th edition of the legendary trotting stakes event on Sunday, Jan. 26 at Hippodrome Paris-Vincennes in France. 

Racing barefoot for the first time in his career, Idao de Tillard delivered a repeat victory as the slight 2-1 favourite for the father and son team of trainer Thierry Duvaldestin and driver Clément Duvaldestin when he emerged on the outside to take command turning into the homestretch and held off Just Love You (Alexandre Abrivard) with Go On Boy (Romain Derieux) third ahead of his half-brother Josh Power (Eric Raffin).

After a false start was caused when Go On Boy and San Moteur (Björn Goop) hooked wheels, take two of the 2,700-metre race proceeded with Hooker Berry (Nicolas Bazire), the 2023 champion, clearing early leaver Don Fanucci Zet (Paul-Philippe Ploquin) as the trotters raced in front of the grandstand the first time then Hussard du Landret (Yoann Lebourgeois) pressed forward and held command until the stretch before finishing fifth.

Idao de Tillard joins a talented group of trotters to have won back-to-back editions of the Prix d'Amérique this millennium, including the Duvaldestin-trained Ready Cash (2011-12) as well as Varenne (2001-02), Offshore Dream (2007-08), Bold Eagle (2016-17) and Face Time Bourbon (2020-21).

Idao de Tillard, who was the dominant favourite last winter with the 2024 Prix d'Amérique part of a nine-race win streak, came into this year's race after what had been hailed as a comeback victory over popular rival Go On Boy in the Prix de Bourgogne qualifying leg on Dec. 29.

A seven-year-old son of Severino out of America de Tillard, Idao de Tillard is owned by Cyril Sevestre. 

The Group 1 stakes carried a purse of €1,000,000 (approximately $1.5 million CAD).

(Standardbred Canada)