by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

The 3-year-old Swedish colt Rolling Stones continued his winning streak on Saturday afternoon (June 29) in the E3 final, raced over the 1-5/16th mile distance at Eskilstuna.

With Ôrjan Kihlström in the bike, Rolling Stones was in command from the start and he won by a length in 1:58.3 (mile rate).

Rolling Stones is sired by Viking Kronos and out of Hot Pants, she by Pine Chip. He is undefeated from seven races and with Saturday’s purse of $120,000, he now has lifetime earnings of $195,000.

Rolling Stones was raised and bred at the Menhammar Stud, owned by Hambletonian Society director Margareta Wallenius-Kleberg. He is owned by the powerful stable of Travkompaniet, who among many other fine trotters own the very popular Maharajah. Stefan Hultman is the trainer.

Viking Kronos used to stand at stud at Menhammar, but is now semi-retired and stabled with his old trainer Lutfi Kolgjini.

Besides Rolling Stones, Viking Kronos had Breakbumper in Saturday’s race and he finished strongly to make it a 1-2 for Viking Kronos.

In the filly division, Viking Kronos played a role again, as he is the grandsire of the winner, Mellby Briolett.

Mellby Briolett, who is trained by Roger Walmann, is from the first crop of Going Kronos (by Viking Kronos) and this was just her fifth race.

Mellby Briolett, with Johan Untersteiner in the bike, came from behind and caught Backfire (by Offshore Dream) with Erik Adielsson to win by a length in 1:59.4f (mile rate). Third was D’One, who had to trot without cover most of the trip.

D’One has the world’s fastest pedigree as she is a daughter of Donato Hanover and Giant Diablo, who both had a mark of 1:50.1.

The winner Mellby Briolett is out of Merit Lane, she by Lindy Lane out of Feeling Great. Feeling Great is the dam of Hambletonian winner Self Possessed.

Nahar, who a month ago won the Elitlopp, was favored to win the Open Trot and was leading down the stretch. However, he was caught by Deuxcime Piscous with Johan Untersteiner in the bike, so Nahar had to settle for second.