by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

The 5-year old trotter Cruzado Dela Noche has been invited to race in the Elitlopp at Solvalla after an impressive win in the Copenhagen Cup Sunday afternoon (May 14) at Charlottenlund racetrack in Denmark.

Gerard Forni photo

Cruzado Dela Noche has been invited to race in the Elitlopp at Solvalla after an impressive win in the Copenhagen Cup.

Cruzado Dela Noche (sired by Muscle Massive) was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms and was sold as Arusa Hanover in Harrisburg as a yearling for $28,000 to the powerful Swedish owner, Courant A B. In the United States, he was campaigned by Nancy Johansson and won five races, took a mark of 1:53.3f and had earnings of $256.702.

Courant A B took Cruzado Dela Noche to Sweden after his 3-year-old campaign and he joined the stables of Stefan Melander. In 2016 Cruado Dela Noche raced 15 times and won five races, lowered his mark to 1:52.1f and earned $260,000. His biggest win was the Grosser Preis von Deutschland at the Bahrenfeld track in Hamburg, Germany.

Cruzado Dela Noche went into the Copenhagen Cup after a very impressive win at Solvalla, where he won in 1:54f (mile rate) by open lengths over the 1-5/16th mile distance.

In the Copenhagen Cup, Cruzado Dela Noche, driven by Per Linderoth, was parked outside leading Nadal Broline, driven by Ulf Ohlsson, most of the trip. In Vain Sund, driven by Ôrjan Kihlström, enjoyed a good trip following Cruzado Dela Noche and attacked down the stretch, but became rough gaited just before the finish line and was disqualified and placed last. Cruzado Dela Noche won the 1-1/4 mile event in 1:54.2f (mile rate), followed by Nadal Broline and French-owned Buzz Mearas.

The purse for the winner was $55,000.