by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

The 3-year-old Finnish trotter Brad de Veluwe, who is sired by Andover Hall, took his seventh victory from eight starts on Saturday afternoon (July 2) at Bergsaaker in the northern part of Sweden.

Kanal 75 photo

Brad de Veluwe was a winner in the E3 final on Saturday.

Brad de Veluwe, with trainer/driver Toumas Kourvenoja in the bike, went to the post as the 1-2 favorite in the E3 final over the 1-5/16th mile distance and was in command from the start. He won in 1:58.3f (mile rate), followed by a fast finishing On Track Piraten, driven by Erik Adielsson.

Brad de Veluwe got the winner’s purse of $125,000 dollars. This was victory number five from as many races this year.

“This horse is a very talented trotter. I think he has the ability to be an international top trotter,” Kourvenoja said after the win.

The dam of Brad de Veluwe is Amazing Ride — she by Muscles Yankee and out of Elation Ride by Express Ride. This is her first foal. Amazing Ride took a mark of 1:58.4f, won 15 races from 33 starts and earned $205,000.

At the 13/16-mile track Enghien in Paris, France, the Swedish trotter Commander Crowe was an easy winner of the Prix de Washington over a mile in 1:52.3. Jean Michel Bazire was in the bike behind the Fabrice Souloy-trained chestnut gelding. The purse for the winner was $85,000.