by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Jimmy Takter-trained Maven had an easy task Sunday (July 21) at the Swedish track Kalmar and she fulfilled the expectations and won easily with Johnny Takter in the bike in the 1-5/16th mile event in a new track record for older mares of 1:55.1f (mile rate).

Kanal 75 photo

Maven, driven by Johnny Takter, won in a new track record for mares at Kalmar.

“She’s a top class trotter, the best mare I have driven since Moni Maker,” Johnny Takter said afterwards. “She has raced so good over here, but still has to win a big stake race. I do hope for her that she soon will be able to do that.”

And that could already happen next Saturday, as Maven is entered in the Kymi Grand Prix at the Kouvola track in Finland.

And for once lady luck has awarded her with post position one. Kymi Grand Prix is raced over the 1-5/16th mile distance and has a total purse of $170,000.

Here is the start list for the Kymi Grand Prix:

1. Maven-Johnny Takter
2. Stormysky-Jukka Torvinen
3. Oasis Bi-Claes Svensson
4. Seabiscuit-Mika Forss
5. Timoko-Pierre Vercruysse
6. Bret Boko-Ari Moilanen
7. Red Rose America-Tony Le Beller
8. Ringostarr Treb-Wilhelm Paal
9. Windy Ways-Daniel Reden
10. Trebol-Gabriel Pou Pou