by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Finland’s biggest international stake race, the Finlandia Ajo, was won by the only Finnish entry, 14-1 shot Brett Boko, driven by Ari Moilanen, in 1:56.1f.

He was followed home by Vincennes, driven by Ôrjan Kihlström, and Univers des Pan, driven by Pierre Daugeard.

Kanal 75 photo

Brett Boko won the Finlandia Ajo on Sunday.

Brett Boko, who is sired by Yankee Glide, was able to take command from post number three and Moillanen controlled the field the whole trip.

Brett Boko finished fast in the last quarter and looked like an easy winner going down the stretch, but on the far outside Vincennes, who recently won the Gran Premio Lotteria in Italy, came flying, but too late to catch Brett Boko. The French trotter Univers de Pan enjoyed a pocket trip, but never found racing room going into the stretch.

The purse for the winner was $125,000, which is by far the biggest purse Brett Boko has ever earned.

After the race Vincennes and Univers de Pan were invited to race in the Oslo Grand Prix three weeks from now. Univers de Pan won the Finlandia Ajo and the Oslo Grand Prix last year.