by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

Rank outsider Blended Scotch, driven by 31-year-old Per Linderoth, sprang a nice surprise in Sweden’s biggest stakes race for 4-year-old mares, the Stochampionatet over the 1-5/8th-mile distance, raced Sunday afternoon (July 21) at Axevalla.

Kanal 75 photo

Blended Scotch was a winner on Sunday in the Stochampionatet.

Blended Scotch came from behind to catch leading Your Highness with Björn Goop, who went into the stretch leading by open lengths. Blended Scotch won by a half-length in 1:57.4f.

Blended Scotch went into the race with lifetime earnings of close to $32,000. The purse for the winner was nearly five times that at $155,000.

Blended Scotch is sired by Super Photo Kosmos and out of Hopscotch, she by Zoot Suit. Though Swedish-bred, Blended Scotch made her debut as a 2-year-old in Estonia, where she won four races from seven starts and took a mark of 2:10.3f.

She came to the stables of Per Linderoth as a 3-year-old, but had some health issues and made only two starts. Going into Sunday’s race, she had seven races under her belt this year, with two wins, two seconds and one third.