by Thomas Hedlund

Bjerke racetrack in Oslo, Norway plays host to massive race cards Saturday (Sept. 10) and Sunday (Sept. 11) when the biggest races for 3-, and 4-year-old trotters are scheduled.

Eliminations were held during the last week in August and some really promising horses will show up already on Saturday’s card, when the $150,000 Kriterium for 3-year-old fillies is on the menu.

Geir Vegard Gundersen trained Lexie B.R. (S.J.’s Caviar) is undefeated after four starts so far and she is probably the horse to beat as she starts from post 1 behind the gate.

Saturday is ladies day and Bjerke’s stakes races this weekend number eight in total (four of them are for cold blooded trotters).

The $200,000 Derby for 4-year-old mares closes the Saturday card and even in that race, Team Gundersen has the probable favorite. Readyforwine (Ready Cash) was 10-2-1 in 13 starts as a 3-year-old and has five wins in six starts 2022. Readyforwine and Thai Brooklyn (Broadway Hall) were the two biggest favorites in the elimination for the mares’ Derby and they both won their qualifying race, respectively.

KRITERIUM FOR FILLIES

2,100 meters

Horse – Sire – Driver

1. Lexie B.R. – S.J.’s Caviar – Magnus Teien Gundersen

2. Eva’s Yankee – Maharajah – Nicklas Korfitsen

3. L.A.’s Venus – Lucky Chucky – Åsbjörn Tengsareid

4. Heikei – Papagayo E. – Kristine Kvasnes

5. Dutchess Sun – Maharajah – Geir Vegard Gundersen

6. M.C. Valiente – Nu Pagadi – Hans Christian Holm

7. U.S.A. Hill – Muscle Hill – Lars Anvar Kolle

8. Eliana Rags – Evil Enok M.E. – Noralf Braekken

9. Bunny – Born In The U.S.A – Tom Erik Solberg

10. N.Y. Moet – Muscle Mass – Mats E Djuse

11. Cabaret Artist – Propulsion – Eirik Höitomt

12. Nancy Lou – Muscle Hill – Erlend Rennesvik

DERBY FOR MARES

2,100 meters

Horse – Sire – Driver

1. Fairytale E.P. – Explosive Matter – Adrian Solberg Akselsen

2. Thai Brooklyn – Broadway Hall – Nicklas Korfitsen

3. Readly’s Dream – Readly Express – Peter Untersteiner

4. I.D. Excellent – Wishing Stone – Tommy Karlstedt

5. Readyforwine – Ready Cash – Magnus Teien Gundersen

6. Deep Sea Lucky – Panne de Moteur – Svein Ove Wassberg

7. Quality Diva – Zola Boko – Johan Kringeland Eriksen

8. Dyess – S.J.’s Caviar – Eirik Höitomt

9. Katja B.R. – Quite Easy – Jos Verbeeck

10. Kim B.R. – Maharajah – Dag-Sveinung Dalen

11. I’ll Follow The Sun – Broadway Legs – Frode Hamre

12. Kandice B.R. – Muscle Hill – Geir Vegard Gundersen

Sunday’s race card is for the colts and geldings, at least when it comes to the stakes races and 12 3-year-old boys will fight for glory in the $150,000 Kriterium over 2,100 meters.

Åsbjörn Tengsareid’s Petho (Propulsion) enters the race with only three prior starts in his career and he is still undefeated. I.D. Forecast (Village Mystic) and Thai Mississippi (Broadway Hall) will probably fight for the bettor’s choice and they both won their elimination, respectively.

In the $200,000 Derby, several talented trotters will gather behind the car and the distance is 2,600 meters. The Derby seems to be an open contest and Frode Hamre is the trainer with best shots in the race, not least because he trains four out of 12 contenders.

KRITERIUM

2,100 meters

Horse – Sire – Driver

1. Petho – Propulsion – Åsbjörn Tengsareid

2. I.D. Forecast – Village Mystic – Kristian Malmin

3. Thai Mississippi – Broadway Hall – Per Oleg Midtfjeld

4. Rockstile R. – Maharajah – Tom Erik Solberg

5. Thai Michigan – Broadway Hall – Lars. Anvar Kolle

6. Cresco H. – Papagayo E. – Eirik Höitomt

7. Thai Ohio – Brillantissime – Frode Hamre

8. Painted Genius – Bar Hopping – Nicklas Korfitsen

9. M.H. Harderthancash – Hard Cash – Gunnar Austevoll

10. Jonathan Star – Born In The U.S.A. – Erlend Rennesvik

11. M.H. Hot Cash – Hard Cash – Amanda Robertsen

12. Thai Kansas – S.J.’s Caviar – Bo Westergaard

DERBY

2,600 meters

Horse – Sire – Driver

1. Code Young – Code Bon – Frode Hamre

2. Alegrito – Maharajah – Lars Anvar Kolle

3. The Pirate – Great Challenger – Dag-Sveinung Dalen

4. Mighty Boy – El Diablo B.R. – Tom Erik Solberg

5. Charleston Volo – Classic Photo – Åsbjörn Tengsareid (Hamre)

6. Amazing Justice – Support Justice – Magnus Teien Gundersen

7. Calhoun – Maharajah – Svein Ove Wassberg (Hamre)

8. Thunderball S.F. – Maharajah – Erlend Rennesvik

9. Lucca – S.J.’s Caviar – Eirik Höitomt

10. Thai Greenwich – Broadway Hall – Vidar Hop (Hamre)

11. Wulcan Laylock – Love You – Per Oleg Midtfjeld

12. Filly’s Fighter – Maharajah – Marius Höitomt