by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Smilin Eli, who was sold to the powerful Swedish stable Stall Zet for $160,000 in Harrisburg last fall, will race for the first time in Europa this Friday night (June 12) at the Visby track on the isle of Gotland.

Smile Eli has drawn post position six behind the gate in a mile event.

Smilin Eli was second in the 2013 Hambletonian behind Royalty For Life and won the New Jersey Sire Stakes final and the Matron Stake. He left United States with earnings of $753,278 and a mark of 1:52.1.

Another expat in Sweden is Creatine.

Creatine, who is owned by Big C Racing, was sent to Sweden several months ago, to be aimed for a spot in the field in the Elitlopp.

That failed.

This past Saturday night Creatine raced in Ôstersund in Northern Sweden, where he finished third in the Gold Division raced over the 1-5/16 mile distance. Creatine, with trainer/driver Robert Bergh in the bike, was timed in 1:58.2f (mile rate).

Ceatine will race again next Saturday in Boden.

North American breeding is quite popular in Europe, as you may know, and for the third time within four years a colt sired by Muscle Hill topped the Elitlopp Sale in Stockholm.

Corey Rain, sired by Muscle Hill and out of Savvy Yankee, was sold for 1,260,000 SEK or $150,000 — a new sales record.

In 2012 a full brother to Corey Rain was the sales topper at the Elitlopp Sale. Named Victory Rain he was sold for $100,000 but unfortunately he had to be put down due to an injury.

Savvy Yankee, who was bred by Yankeeland Farms, had eight foals in the United States before being exported to Denmark. Her last foal born in North America was Knows Nothing — sired by Kadabra — who won $728,688 and took a mark of 1:51.4s before being sold to owners in Finland.

Finally a correction to yesterday’s story about the purse in the Oslo Grand Prix. The purse for the winner is $190,000 — $95,000 dollars is for second place.