by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

The 5-year-old Italian trotter Owen’s Club, driven by Pietro Gubellini, won the Sweden Cup at Solvalla on Saturday afternoon (May 25).

Gerard Forni photo

Owen’s Club won the Sweden Cup on Saturday afternoon.

Owen’s Club won an elimination, as well as the final, and in the final he was timed in 1:52.1f, which was a race record. Owen’s Club was a narrow winner over fast finishing Up And Quick of France, while another Italian trotter, Look MP, finished third.

The purse for the winner was $90,000.

Owen’s Club is sired by Duke Of York and out of a mare sired by Sugarcane Hanover. He made headlines as a 2-year-old, as he won his debut in 1:57.1f in Italy. Since then he has stamped himself as one of the best Open class trotters in Italy.

Owen’s Club won his elimination in 1:54.1f. The other elimination was won by Traveling Man (sired by Supergill), driven by Johan Untersteiner in 1:52.4f.

In the final Traveling Man was leading, but under pressure from Monster Drive, driven by Ake Svanstedt, while Owen’s Club was sitting in the pocket until going into the stretch, where Gubellini made his winning move.