by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

Lou Guida’s Lisa America tried her best down the stretch to catch the French trotting monster Rapide Lebel in the Kymi Grand Prix (1- 5/16th mile race) in Finland on Saturday afternoon (June 18).

But without any luck.

Rapide Lebel might be the best trotter in the world at present and won handily for Eric Raffin, four lengths ahead of Lisa America. North American-bred Amour Ami was third.

Lisa America, driven by Torbjørn Jansson, left quickly from the start, but after 600 meters Rapide Lebel came and took over. Going into the stretch Jansson took Lisa America to the outside, but the mare couldn’t find the same gear as Rapide Lebel, who was timed in 1:57.1 (mile rate). The purse for the winner was $120,000, while Lisa America picked up a check for $50,000.

Her travel companion, Melton Kronos, who is also owned by Guida, finished second in a two mile event on the undercard; that was worth $7,000.

The Kymi Grand Prix is the eighth leg of the European Grand Circuit series and after the win Rapide Lebel is now second with eight points behind Italian trotter Libeccio Grif, who is leading with 10 points. Those two might clash in the next leg, the Forus Open in Norway on July 3.