by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

It was a very impressive performance by top Swedish trotter Readly Express on Saturday afternoon (June 9) at Ôstersund in Sweden, where he returned to action for the first time since his victory in the Prix d’Amerique in January.

Readly Express, driven by Jorma Kontio, raced in the Jâmtland Great Price over the 1-5/16 mile distance and with a purse for the winner of $80,500.

Readly Express had drawn a post position in the second tier in the field of 10 trotters (eight behind the gate) and after being parked three-over Kontio made his move after the first quarter and came up outside leading Volstead driven by Ulf Ohlsson.

With 600 meters to go Kontio asked Readly Express to go faster and before going into the turn Readly Express and Kontio were in command in front.

From there it was just a walk in the park and Readly Express won easily in a new race record of 1:52.3f (mile rate), followed two lengths back by Diamanten, driven by Erik Adielsson, and Trendy OK, driven by Alessandro Gocciadoro.