Ready Cash Repeats In 90th Prix d'Amerique

Ready Cash won his second straight Prix d'Amerique at the Vincennes track in Paris on Sunday afternoon, defeating the mare Roxane Griff in a mile rate time of 1:56

for the 2,700 metre race (1.67 miles). Frank Nivard drove the winner, a seven-year-old stallion by Indy de Vive.

As expected, Ready Cash started on the far outside of the 18-horse field as Timoko took the early lead and Lisa America, bred and owned by Lou Guida and trained by Jerry Riordan, got away second. The field, as is the norm for the Prix d'Amerique, was stacked up in three tiers, with Ready Cash and Maharajah in the outer tier but close up.

The field raced in their established positions until they came out of the last turn, when the Swedish-owned Maharajah, driven by Orjan Kihlstrom, trotted up to challenge, but he didn't have the closing kick needed to trot clear. As others tired, Franck Nivard saw the daylight he needed and called on Ready Cash, who with a quick burst of speed took command of the race.

Ready Cash crossed the wire an easy winner, although the top four finishers were within a couple of lengths. Roxane Griff, driven by Eric Raffin, took second, The Best Madrik, with Jean-Etienne Dubois driving, was third, Maharajah held for fourth and Timoko was fifth.

Ready Cash earned approximately $650,000 for his owners, which includes horseman Philippe Allaire.

(harnessracing.com)