by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

After Nuncio’s win this past Thursday night in Sprintermästaren at Halmstad in Southern Sweden, another North American bred trotter, Heaven’s Door, won the mare division raced on Saturday afternoon (July 4).

Heaven’s Door, driven by Ulf Ohlsson, was an easy winner in 1:54.1f and picked up a check of $66,000.

Heaven’s Door, who is by Muscle Hill and out of Girlie Tough, was bought by the Swedish farm Mellby Gaard as a yearling for $90,000 and was trained by Ross Croghan as a 2-year-old.

After Ake Svanstedt moved to the United States, he took over the training and raced her 12 times last year. Heaven’s Door won two races, earned $191,966 and took a mark of 1.52.

She was exported to Sweden and Reijo Liljendahl, who is based at Solvalla, is now the trainer.

Just like Sprintermästaren, half the field of ten in the mare division was bred and raised in the United States.

In a mile race for elder mares Your Highness (sired by Chocolatier) won in 1:52.1f, which is a new Swedish record for that category.