by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Senior Newsroom Correspondent

DD’s Hitman, a 6-year-old trotter sired by Donato Hanover, won the Finlandia Ajo at Vermo in a new race record of 1:52.2f, and thus earned himself a spot in the Elitlopp at Solvalla.

Kanal 75 photo

DD’s Hitman won the Finlandia Ajo easily, followed by Propulsion.

Propulsion (sired by Muscle Hill), driven by Ôrjan Kihlström, was in to win the race for the second year in a row, but was not able to catch DD’s Hitman, who won very easily by 1-1/2 lengths followed by Propulsion and Twister Bi, driven by Christoffer Eriksson.

DD’s Hitman is trained by Petri Purjo in Sweden and was driven by Ulf Ohlsson, who took the drive after regular driver Johnny Takter had to forfeit because of back problems.

The purse for the winner was $120,000.

DD’s Hitman, who was a $20,000 yearling, was campaigned in the United States by Ake Svanstedt and later by Ron Burke. From 24 races he won five, earned $97,135 and took a mark of 1:52.1.

Last year the Finnish owner Reima Kuisla took the horse to Sweden to be trained by Petri Purjo, a native Finn, who has been a trainer in Sweden for many years and is in fact the breeder of legendary top trotter Commander Crowe, who he trained for some years before the horse was transferred to Fabrice Souloy in France.

Purjo has developed DD’s Hitman into an international trotting star and the horse is now ready for the Elitlopp. This year DD’s Hitman has raced four times and won three races.