by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondant

The Swedish mare Camilla Highness, driven by Peter Ingves, won the Grand Circuit race Kymi Grand Prix, over the 1-5/16th mile distance at The Kouvola racetrack in Finland on Saturday afternoon, June 16.

The favorite, Gentleman, driven by Thomas Uhrberg, went off stride from the start and finished last.

Camilla Highness is a 7-year-old mare sired by Super Arnie and her granddam is Princess Glory — winner of The Hambletonian Oaks in 1980. She has been a very useful trotter over the years, but Saturday’s victory is by far the most prestigious result for her. She is trained in Halmstad, Sweden by Finnish-born Petri Purjo; the driver Peter Ingves is Finnish-born also.

Camilla Highness won very easily after she had enjoyed a pocket trip behind Spring Ray, driven by Björn Goop, and won in 1:57.2f (mile rate). The purse for the winner was $110,000. Spring Ray finished second, followed by the French entry, Lupin de L’Odon, driven by Fabrice Colette.

In Sweden, the main event on Saturday afternoon was the Top of the Trot race at Boden over 1-5/16th miles in a little town in northern Sweden.

Though 10 years of age, Digger Crown (sired by Lindy’s Crown) is still sparkling and he won very easily for driver Erik Adielsson in 1:55.4f. The purse for the winner was $70,000.

Digger Crown has raced 109 times and has won 55 races and a total of $2.3 million in his career.