by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Al Dente, a 3-year-old colt, won the E3 final over the 1-1/4 mile distance at Bergsaker Racetrack in northern Sweden on Saturday afternoon (June 28).

Kanal 75 photo

Al Dente won the E3 final over the 1-1/4 mile distance at Bergsaker Racetrack in northern Sweden.

Al Dente, who is sired by Hambletonian winner Scarlet Knight, was in command from the start and won in a hand drive from Ôrjan Kihlström in 1:57.3f (mile rate) followed 1-1/2 lengths behind by Psycho, driven by Björn Goop.

Al Dente, who is trained by Catarina Lundström, has now won eight races from nine starts this year and picked up a check of $120,000 for the win.

The filly division was won by the Finnish filly Artic Model, driven by Pekka Korpi, who enjoyed a pocket trip behind long leading Fashion Duo, driven by Jorma Kontio. Arctic Model found racing room going into the stretch and won by a length in 1:58.4f (mile rate), followed by Fashion Duo.

Arctic Model is sired by Classic Photo, who now is at stud at the famous Broline Stud in Sweden.

In France the main event at the Enghien track in Paris was the Prix de Washington over the mile, which had Univers de Pan, who recently won the Oslo Grand Prix, as the big favorite.

But Univers de Pan, driven by Philippe Daugeard, was not at his best and at the end it was two Italian trotters, both sired by Varenne, who battled it out. Long leading Napoleon Bar, driven by Pierre Vercruysse, managed to hold off the late charge from Pascia Lest, driven by Franck Nivard. Napoleon Bar won in 1:53.4. The purse for the winner was $80,000.