by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

The eagerly awaited European debut for Wild Honey on Wednesday night (April 13) in Sweden was not a good one. With less than a quarter-mile to go Wild Honey went off stride and was disqualified and placed last.

But the 4-year-old mare was not to blame, driver Ôrjan Kihlström said after the race.

“It was my fault. I eased her and she thought the race was over. It was the first timed she raced over 1-5/16th miles and this happened after the mile. She thought she was finished, I think,” Kihlström said.

Wild Honey was 3-10 in the betting.

The race was won by 40-1 shot Lady Lee, driven by Kerstin Hell.

At Solvalla top trotter Nuncio, driven by Stefan Melander, was 1-10 in the betting and fulfilled the expectations. However, he did not win as convincingly as last time. Long leading Food Money gave Nuncio a match until the finish line. Nuncio, who had to trot outside without cover most of the trip, won by a half-length in 1:53.4f.