by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

The last leg in the European Grand Circuit, the Gran Premio delle Nazioni, over the 1-5/16th mile distance on Sunday (Nov. 6) at San Siro, Milan, Italy, was won by the Swedish trotter Beanie MM with Johnny Takter in the bike in a new race record of 1:55.4f.

Beanie MM was in command most of the trip and held off a late charge from Italian trotter Lebel RL with Roberto Vecchione. Third was Sweden’s Noras Bean with Stefan Söderkvist.

The purse for the winner was $235,000.

For the Super Bowl line the race was a big success as Beanie MM and Noras Been were sired by Super Arnie, while Lebel RL was sired by Supergill.

Since 2001 Swedish trotters have won this prestigious race six times. The last time a homebred trotter won the Nazioni was in 1999, when the great champion Varenne won.

The final standings in the Grand Circuit are as follows:

1. Rapide Lebel-France-18
2. Brioni-Germay-11
3. Libeccio Grif-Italy-10
4. Renommée d´Obret-France-7
5. Linda di Casei-Italy-6
Lisa America-Italy-6