Hokkaido Jiel prevailed in a thrilling finish to the 2026 Prix d'Amérique on Sunday, Jan. 25 at Hippodrome Paris-Vincennes in France.

Trained by Jean Luc Dersoir with Franck Nivard catch-driving, Hokkaido Jiel pulled off a 37-1 upset in a muddy 105th edition of the Group 1 stakes event with Josh Power (Sébastien Ernault) settling for second while the Muscle Hill son Epic Kronos (Paul Philippe Ploquin) edged out Frank Gio (Matthieu Abrivard) and Harmony du Rabutin (David Bekaert) for third.

After multiple early lead changes in the 2,700m race, Elitloppet champion Go On Boy and Prix de Bretagne winner Josh Power emerged at the head of the 18-horse field of top European trotters with about 1,000 metres to go and the half brothers duelled into the stretch.

As they raced in front of the grandstand, Go On Boy broke stride in his fourth Prix d'Amérique attempt while a ground-saving Hokkaido Jiel, who was seventh in the early going and shuffled to 11th at one point between foes, rallied inside of Josh Power to defeat that rival and the outside closers.

Owned and bred by Ecurie Luck, the nine-year-old millionaire son of Brillantissime-Victory Jiel, who was a runner-up in the 2024 Prix d'Amérique, has now won 12 of his 74 career starts.

Dersoir celebrated his first Prix d'Amérique victory while Nivard claimed his sixth title. Nivard's first victory in the race was in 2009 with Meaulnes du Corta and he last won it back-to-back years in 2016 and 2017 with Bold Eagle after winning consecutive editions in 2011 and 2012 with that champion's sire Ready Cash. 

The race offered a purse of €1,000,000 ($1,620,250 CAD).

To view the race results chart and replay, click here.

(Standardbred Canada)