by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

The 4-year-old trotter Bullchip (sired by Angus Hall) won the Norwegian Hambletonian Stake — called the Jarlsberg Grand Prix — on Friday night (July 16) at Jarlsberg – a five-eighths-mile track situated in the little town of Tönsberg, 60 miles south of Oslo.

The Jarlsberg Grand Prix is for 4-year-old Norwegian trotters and was raced with three eliminations and a final on the same card — all raced over the mile.

Golden Brown (sired by Chipmate) was the fastest winner of the elims as he won by open lengths in 1:56.1f. Super Brick (sired by Igor Brick) won in 1:57f with Bullchip second, while the third elim went to the mare Delicious Queen (sired by Cigar Bar) in 1:57.4f.

In the final Golden Brown was made the 1-4 favorite, but he was out after making a break as the gate left the field. Bullchip, driven by Vidar Hop, was soon in command and though 90-1 shot Brave Boy made a brave effort down the stretch to catch Bullchip the victory was never in danger. Bullchip won by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:58.2f and earned $50,000.

Bullship won the Norwegian Kriiterium last year and is one of the favorites for the Derby to be raced in September. He is sired by Angus Hall and out of Daisy Chip, she by Lindy Lane.

Jarlsberg is the center for trotting in Norway this week, as the Jarlsberg meeting started on Wednesday and will continue through Sunday, where the Ulf Thoresens Memorial is the highlight.