by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

The Swedish Hambletonian, Sprintermästaren, raced Thursday night (July 3) at Halmstad in Southern Sweden was won by the outsider Happy Days, driven by Johnny Takter.

Kanal 75 photo

Happy Days was a winner for driver Johnny Takter.

Sprintermästaren is for 4-year-old trotters and raced with eliminations and a final on the same card.

Happy Days, who is trained by 26-year-old Danish born Michael Lonborg, went into the race as the least experienced trotter, as he just had nine races under his belt.

Happy Days won his elimination in 1:54f, while the other two eliminations were won by Poochai, driven by Erik Adielsson, in 1:54.4f and Express Duo, driven by Pekka Korpi, in 1:55.2f.

Poochai, who recently won the Kings Trophy at Aby, was the even money favorite in the final, but he went off stride around the first bend and was disqualified and placed last.

Happy Days was able to take the lead and stayed on to win easily in a new record of 1:53.4f followed by Express Duo, who found racing room very late and just managed to get the better of Tumble Dust to finish second.

The purse for the winner was $135,000.

Happy Days is sired by Dream Vacation (by Pine Chip) and out of a mare sired by Varenne.