The field is now set for the 2015 Prix d'Amerique with North American-based trotter Maven among the elite group of 18.
Sunday's race has attracted an internationally-acclaimed field with trotters vying for the winner's share of the €1-million purse. Maven, owned by Toronto's John Fielding, Quebec native Herb Liverman (now residing in Miami Beach, Fl.) and Ohio's Joyce McClelland, will be making her third start in France. In her last outing over the 2,700 metre distance she finished seventh after an on-the-engine trip in the Prix Tenor de Baune.
"I am very happy with her. She felt very sharp. I only wish it was not so cold here!," said Takter after the training trip.
Regular driver Yannick Gingras will be in the sulky on Sunday, making his Prix d'Amerique debut. The race is conducted from a standing start position (no starting gate), and Gingras will have an opportunity to familiarize himself with the standing start on Saturday. Reports indicate that Gingras has picked up three drives at Vincennes on Saturday, two of which will be from a standing start.
Also of note, trainer Jimmy Takter has stated that Maven will race barefoot at Vincennes. She has raced barefoot in the past, most recently over Lexington's Red Mile in the Allerage Open Mare Trot -- where she finished fourth in a world record 1:51 mile by then-stablemate Mistery Woman, trotting her mile in 1:51.4
Prix d'Amerique 2015 Starting List
1. Vulcain de Vandel - Franck Nivard
2. Tumble Dust - Jos Verbeeck
3. Voltigeur de Myrt - Gabriele Gelormini
4. Solvato - Örjan Kihlström
5. Olmo Holz - Christophe Martens
6. Linda di Casei - Alessandro Gocciadoro
7. Aladin d'Ecajeul - Mathieu Abrivard
8. Kadett C.D. - Robert Bergh
9. Mosaique Face - Pierre Vercruysse
10. Uhlan du Val - Cédric Megissier
11. Severino - Damien Bonne
12. Napoleon Bar - Enrico Bellei
13. Texas Charm - Julien Dubois
14. Maven - Yannick Gingras
15. Up And Quick - Jean Michel Bazire
16. Tiego d'Etang - Christian Bigeon
17. Timoko - Björn Goop
18. Roxane Griff - Eric Raffin
The Prix d'Amerique is set for the sixth race on Sunday's card from Vincennes, going off at approximately 10:20 a.m. (ET).