by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Senior Newsroom Correspondent

Phantasm Soa, driven by Asbjörn Tengsareid, won the Norwegian “Hambletonian” or the Jarlsberg Grand Prix Friday night (July 7) in new race record of 1.52.2. The time is also the fastest ever in a Norwegian trotting race. The Jarlsberg Grand Prix is raced with two eliminations and a final on the same day for 4-year-old trotters.

Phantasm Soa was second in his elimination behind Cokstile. The winner is sired by Quite Easy, was driven by Lars Anvar Kolle and was timed in 1.53.2. The other elimination was won by Shotproof, who is sired by Yankee Glide, and was driven by Flemming Jensen in 1.55.

In the final Cokstile was in command from start, but from second-over Phantasm Soa finished strongly to win by one length in 1.52.2 followed by Cokstile and Shotproof.

The purse for the winner was $35,000.

Phantasm Soa is sired by Cromwell (Credit Winner) and out of a Dutch mare, Uiver H. She is by the Italian sire Uxer LB, who is by Armbro Goal.

Phantasm Soa was second last year in the European 3-year-old championship raced at Vincennes. From there he raced in the Gran Premio Orsi Mangelli in Italy, where he finished fourth. He was placed in training in France by Oliver Raffin, who raced him three times, which resulted in one win, one second and a minor placing at Vincennes.

Phantasm Soa came back to Norway a month ago and won the Elite race for 4-year-old trotters on the day of the Oslo Grand Prix.

He is trained by Anders L. Wolden, who operated a stable in Canada a decade ago.