Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Jag de Bellouet Wins Elitlopp in Sweden

The French Champion Jag de Bellouet showed how great is is when he won the Elitlopp in a new stakes record of 1:514f -- just a fraction slower that Varenne's world record. The purse for the winner was $340,000.

Jag de Bellouet, who was racing for the first time outside his native France, won very handily, by two lengths, and was followed to the finish line by Lets Go, driven by Enrico Bellei. One of the elimination winners, Conny Nobell, driven by Bj'Goop, managed to finish third, just a head in front of his stablemate, Thai Tanic driven by Bj's father, Olle Goop. The Canadian mare Snazzy Millie, with Rick Zeron in the bike, paved the way for the new stakes record when they flew to the front from post position seven, set the early fractions, and were able to maintain the fast pace. The first half-mile was trotted in :55, but with 500 meters to go Jag de Bellouet took over from Snazzy Millie -- and left the field in his wake.

Earlier on Sunday, the French champion trotter Jag de Bellouet and his trainer-driver Christophe Gallier had to survive an inquiry by the judges at Solvalla Racecourse before the result of their elimination was made official, and they qualified for the final. An incident occurred, with 500 meters to go, in which Gallier, who had been racing on the rail, forced his way out into the two path, and thereby was alleged to have interfered with Victory Tilly, driven by Erik Adielsson. It took nearly 10 minutes before the judges posted the result. The heat was won by the Swedish trotter Hot Shot Knick, driven by Thomas Uhrberg, who was in command from right start. Jag de Bellouet finished very strongly, but Hot Shot Knick just managed to reach the finish line first, by a nose, and won in 1:534f.

The other elimination saw last year?s winner of the Swedish Trotting Derby, Conny Nobell, driven by Bj'Goop, win easily, in 1:55.4f, and followed to the wire by by Super Light, Steinlager, the defending winner of the Elitlopp, and the Canadian mare Snazzy Millie.