by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent
Swedish-owned Amour Ami, driven by Mika Forss, won the Finnish trotting race St Michels Race over a mile in 1:52.2f — the fastest time in Europe in 2010.
The 8-year-old American bred Amour Ami, who was campaigned by Per Henriksen in the United States, has really blossomed this year, but even though he went into the St Michels Race with four wins in a row he was a 15-1 shot in the betting. The German born Nu Pagadi, with Erik Adielsson, who won the Copenhagen Cup a month ago, was the even money favorite.
Nu Pagadi was never in the picture in the race in Finland, and he became roughed gaited before the last quarter and went off stride. The Italian trotter Irving Rivarco, with Jorma Kontio in the bike, was in command from the start, but Amour Ami wore him down just before the finish line to win by a neck. The purse to the winner was $85,000.
Amour Ami is trained and part owned by Robert Bergh, who won another big race last Thursday, the Sprintermästaren in Halmstad.
Amour Ami was sold to Sweden four years ago and has raced with some success. Last year Amour Ami returned to North America where he raced in the Maple Leaf Trot elims at Mohawk and was sixth. A week later he was first past the wire at Mohawk in a Preferred Trot, but because of interference he was placed sixth. He also raced in the Nat Ray at the Meadowlands, where he finished sixth.
Amour Ami is sired by Tagliabue and out of a full sister to Andover Hall, Conway Hall and Angus Hall. He has lifetime winnings of $560,000 and has won 33 races from 82 starts.