Sundsvall Open Trot

17,000 people visited Bergsåker racecourse in Sundsvall last Saturday, and the audience could enjoy an exciting finish of Sundsvall Open Trot 2010.


The Best Filly in the World
Torvald Palema with trainer Åke Svanstedt in the bike was the even-money favorite. However, The Italian-based but American-born trainer Jerry Riordan had set Lisa America in perfect condition and when driver Torbjörn Jansson managed to keep her calm before post time, much of the race was won. From pos eight behind the gate, Jansson found her a great position as third horse on the outside with Beanie M.M. right behind. Torvald Palema got to the lead with Commander Crowe on the outside. The pair battled through fractions of 1:55.1, 1:57.1 and 1:52.4 in the final panel. Via a three-wide move 700 meters left of the race, Lisa America came up outside of Torvald Palema and showed no mercy on the homestretch. She kept her speed right to the wire and finished the last 700 meters at 1.08,0 (1:49.2) and won the race at 1.12,2/2140a (1:56.1). Beanie M.M. could not follow Lisa America, but finished second before Torvald Palema. “She is one of the best horses in the world”, Torbjörn Jansson said before the race and there were no doubts afterwards.

The Best Sport
Mr Riordan was touched after the race especially since he trained both the dam Zagabria Dei (by Victory Dream) and her dam Donnina (by Super Bowl). Last year, Lisa America set a world-record mark at 1.11,1/2100a (1:55.4) at San Siro in Milan for 4-year-old fillies, but has mixed highs and lows this season. She won Oslo Grand Prix after a great speed on the homestretch and was then invited to the Elitlopp, but did not qualify for the final. She finished second in Forus Open Trot with Erik Adielsson in the bike behind Torvald Palema, but went off stride in the Hugo Åberg Memorial and in Jubileumspokalen, trainer Riordan said the recall of the start made her too stressed. Mr Riordan was more than pleased that Lisa America finally showed her full capacity on Swedish grounds. “You got the best horses, the best trainers, the best sport and the best audience, this is amazing”, said Mr Riordan before he greeted his horse.

The $137,000 winner’s share of the purse boosted the filly’s career earnings to almost $1,400,000 of which $559,000 was this year. The winner was breed and is owned by Guida Italia SRL in Italy and now has 17 wins in 44 life starts. Next start will be the Åby Grand Prix on September 18, where Torvald Palema and Lavec Kronos are among the contestants.