by Thomas Hedlund

Three-year-old trotters are in focus when the $800,000 Kriteriet and 560,000 Oaks are on the race card at Solvalla on Saturday (Sept. 24). In addition to the two big stakes races, a $150,000 STL open is on the menu.

Roger Walmann-trained Bedazzled Sox (Brillantissime) will most likely be the bettors’ choice in Kriteriet over 2,640 meters. Walmann’s horse won his elimination heat at Solvalla on Sept. 9 without problem after a front-end trip. Bedazzled Sox won the $200,000 E3 in July, finished second in the $200,000 E3 in August and is by far the most merited trotter in the field Saturday. In his runner up performance in E3, Stefan Melander’s Nuncio son Following proved to be the best. Paired with Björn Goop, Following will be a serious shot in Kriteriet.

Walmann trains three contenders, Daniel Redén has four horses in the race, of which three of them won their respective eliminations. Redén’s main driver, Örjan Kihlström, drove all four horses in the eliminations and he has opted for the only one that didn’t win for the final. Kihlström’s choice is Xanthis Harvey (Propulsion), who starts from post 11.

In the $560,000 Oaks, Timo Nurmos has pole position with three horses in the race, where Aurelia Express (Readly Express) and Bonnewille W.I. (S.J.’s Caviar) start from the best positions, post 1 and 2 over 2,140 meters.

$800,000 KRITERIET

Horse – Sire – Driver

1. Bedazzled Sox – Brillantissime – Torbjörn Jansson (Walmann)

2. Global Deputy – Broadway Hall – Magnus A Djuse

3. Following – Nuncio – Björn Goop

4. Ante la Roque – Uncle Lasse – Erik Adielsson (Redén)

5. Bengan – Django Riff – Ulf Ohlsson (Redén)

6. Greensboro Zet – Father Patrick – Claes Sjöström (Redén)

7. Every Day Elegant – Maharajah – Per Lennartsson (Walmann)

8. Coquaholy – Orlando Vici – Kim Eriksson (Walmann)

9. Mister Jupiter – Ready Cash – Jorma Kontio

10. Monastery Boko – Chelsea Boko – Robin Bakker

11. Xanthis Harvey – Propulsion – Örjan Kihlström (Redén)

12. My Dreams – Nuncio – Oskar J Andersson

$560,000 OAKS

Horse – Sire – Driver

1. Aurelia Express – Readly Express – Erik Adialsson (Nurmos)

2. Bonnewille W.I. – S.J.’s Caviar – Ulf Ohlsson (Nurmos)

3. Olivia Coger – Monark Newman – Stefan Persson

4. Queen Belina – Nuncio – Jörgen Westholm

5. Kayla Westwood – Maharajah – Magnus A Djuse

6. Lawina – Uncle Lasse – Claes Sjöström

7. O’Mara Zon – Maharajah – Daniel Wäjersten

8. Beat It – Broadway Hall – Björn Goop (Nurmos)

9. Joy Sisu – Brillantissime – Mika Forss

10. Jewilla – Propulsion – Mats E Djuse

11. Carbonfiber – Uncle Lasse – Örjan Kihlström

12. Nycora – Nuncio – Carl Johan Jepson

$150,000 STL OPEN

Horse – Driver

Admiral As – Erik Adielsson

2. Missle Hill – Claes Sjöström

3. Click Bait – Per Lennartsson

4. Hail Mary – Örjan Kihlström

5. Brother Bill – Magnus A Djuse

6. Global Badman – Daniel Wäjersten

7. Önas Prince – Per Nordström

8. Esprit Sisu – Ulf Ohlsson

9. Zaccaria Bar – Alessandro Gocciadoro

10. Milligan’s School – Björn Goop

EUROPEAN TEAM SET FOR INTERNATIONAL TROT

October 15 is the date for $1 million Yonkers International Trot and the European team is set for the prestigious race. The International Trot has been presented in its current shape since 2015 and the last time the race was held was in 2019 (the COVID-19 pandemic forced a two-year break), when Italian trotter Zacon Gio won. Zacon Gio will represent Italy even this year and Europe sends a strong field to New York in October.

Ecurie D, who is trained by Åke Svanstedt, is obviously already in the U.S., but the horse will represent Denmark in the International Trot.

Elitloppet winner Etonnant is probably Europe’s best shot at Yonkers this year, even if a half-mile track will be a tricky experience for him.

EUROPEAN HORSES SET FOR INTERNATIONAL TROT

Horse – Country

Zacon Gio – Italy

Etonnant – France

Cokstile – Norway

Stoletheshow – Norway

Ecurie D – Denmark

Tycoon Conway Hall – Denmark

Kennedy – Sweden