by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

The 4-year-old trotter Cruzado Dela Noche took his first win in Europe on Sunday afternoon (June 12) at Bjerke in Oslo.

Eirik Stenhaug/Equus Media photo

Cruzado Dela Noche was a 1:53.1 winner in Norway.

Driven by Björn Goop, Cruzado Dela Noche was in command the whole trip and won in 1:53.1f, which is two fractions better than his previous best mark, taken at Pocono nearly a year ago.

Cruzado Dela Noche, who in the United States was campaigned by Nancy Johansson, is still owned by the powerful Courant Stable and is now trained in Sweden by Stefan Melander.

The purse for the win for Cruzado Dela Noche, who is sired by Muscle Massive, was $25,000.

But there were other remarkable winners at Bjerke Sunday.

The Finnish 3-year-old trotter MAS Archie won in 1:55.2f, even though he had to trot outside without cover most of the trip. Mika Forss was in the bike behind MAS Archie, who is sired by Holiday Credit.

Timone Ek, an Italian trotter sired by Mr Vic, was an easy winner in the Riks Toto Europamatch, a race for 4- and 5-year- old trotters. Timone Ek driven by Björn Goop, won the 1-5/16th mile event in 1:55.1f (mile rate) very easily. Timone EK is trained by Fabrice Souloy, who also trains Your Highness, who won the Oslo Grand Prix.

Björn Goop won five races on the card.