by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

Italian trotters won big stakes races in Norway and Finland on Sunday afternoon (July 14).

In Norway Rod Stewart, a 3-year-old colt sired by Love You, won the Ulf Thoresens Memrial at Jarlsberg while Owens Club, a 5-year-old son of Duke Of York, won the St Michels Race at the Mikkeli track.

Rod Stewart, who is trained by USA expat Jerry Riordan, came from behind to win the Ulf Thoresens Memorial, raced over the 1-5/16th mile distance by a half-length in 1:58.2 with Kenneth Haugstad in the bike; the purse for the winner was $80,000.

On the undercard, Ultimate Lindy (sired by Chocolatier) won in 1:55.4f and I’m The Answer (sired by Credit Winner) won in 1:54.1f.

Yarrah Boko — considered the best trotter in Norway — returned to action after problems with a leg; in fact this was his first race since his victory in the Prix de Belgique back in January.

Yarrah Boko, who is sired by Coktail Jet, trailed the field by 60 meters over a distance close to two miles, but that was not a problem and he won handily.

In the St Michels Race over the mile, Owens Club, with Pietro Gubellini, won easily in 1:52.1f; the purse for the winner was 90,000 Euro.

Back in May Owens Club won the Sweden Cup at Solvalla, also called “The Little Elitlopp” as it is raced the day before the Elitlopp and in the same way with eliminations and a final.