The 2017 Hambletonian winner Perfect Spirit, driven by Ôrjan Kihlström, was very impressive Friday afternoon (April 19) at the Färjestad track in Sweden, where he won his first start in 2019.

Perfect Spirit was in command the whole trip and won handily in 1:52.4f.

“Perfect Spirit was just perfect. He was fantastic last year, but I think he is much better now. A complete trotter,” Kihlström said after the win.

Perfect Spirit is trained by Daniel Redén, who has great plans for the Andover Hall son, but to race him in the Elitlopp this year is not in the plans. Instead, Perfect Spirit will be aimed to race in the Oslo Grand Prix in June.

Bold Eagle scratched

Top French trotter Bold Eagle was entered in the Group 1-race Prix de Atlantique at Enghien, Paris, Saturday afternoon (April 20), but has been scratched due to an infection.

Bold Eagle had won the race the last two years and was going for a hat trick, this time with top Swedish driver Björn Goop. This is the second time Goop was assigned to drive Bold Eagle and the horse had to be scratched.