by Karsten Bønsdorf

After an impressive win in the second heat of a prestigious Swedish stake race, Lou Guida’s tuff mare, Lisa America, is being hailed by the Swedish press as the world’s best trotter.

Lisa America, trained by ex-pat Jerry Riordan, bred and owned by Lou Guida and driven by Torbjörn Jansson, won the heat race, Aby Stora Pris Saturday afternoon in Gothenburg.

Kanal 75 photo

Lisa America won the Aby Stora Pris Saturday afternoon in Gothenburg in straight heats.

Lisa America won both heats – first in 1:56.f and then in a very impressive 1:52.4f – which was a new Swedish record for foreign mares.

But what was much more impressive was the way in which Lisa America won the second heat.

She trotted the last 5/8 mile without cover outside leading Beanie M.M. with Per Lennartsson, while the 3/5 favorite, Torvald Palema with Ake Svanstedt, was sitting in the garden spot, waiting for the open stretch.

But down the stretch Lisa America proved to be the best, though Torvald Palema tried hard to catch her. Lisa America won by a neck followed by Torvald Palema and Beanie M.M.

Lisa America picked up a check of 1.5 million Swedish kroner – or $231,000.

“This is a very big thing and it’s very emotional, Jerry Riordan said afterwards. I think that Sweden has the best harness tracks and some very enthusiastic fans – this is was harness racing is about.”

5-year old Lisa America is a daughter of legendary Italian trotting star Varenne, and she has now won 20 races from 47 starts. She has earnings of $1.5 million and half that money she has won this year.

Aby Stora Pris is the 12th leg of the European Grand Circuit and in the points standings Lisa America is now the leader by 15 points, followed by Torvald Palema with 14, while Brioni of Germany has 12.

The final leg – The Gran Premio delle Nazioni will be raced at San Siro in Milan on November the 7, but most likely Lisa America is the overall winner of the Grand Circuit. That alone is worth around $200,000.