The Sprintermästaren at Halmstad — Sweden’s Hambletonian for 4-year-old trotters — was won by Don Fanuccio Zet driven by Ôrjan Kihlström in a new Swedish record of 1:52f.

Don Fannuci Zet won his elimination as well as the final and earned a total of $145,000.

Don Fannuci Zet won his elimination as well as the final and earned a total of $145,000. Kanal 75 photo.

This year Don Fannuci Zet has developed into a top trotter and is now considered the favorite for the Swedish Derby to be raced in early September. Don Fannuci Zet is bred and owned by the Powerful Zet Stable, who in the United States race trotters owned by Brixton Medical.

The breeding of Don Fannuci Zet is special as he is by the trotter Hard Livin and out of the pacer mare Kissed By The West, she by Western Terror. Daniel Redén, private trainer for the Zet Stable, bought Kissed By The West in Lexington for just $15,000 and back home in Sweden he tried to make a trotter out of her.

That failed and as a 3-year-old she was covered by Pastor Stephen. In 2015 she foaled a colt, who was named Kiss Of Judas, who was exported to Finland. He has a mark of 1:59f and earnings of $16,000. The following year she got another colt, Don Fanucci Zet, sired by Hard Livin. Kissed By The West has another colt sired by Hard Livin, the unraced 3-year-old Livi Percy HM.

Don Fanucci Zet didn’t look like a top trotter last year. He was a decent trotter as he won four from six starts, but only earned around $18,000 and took a mark of 1:59.2f. But this year Don Fanucci Zet has developed into a top trotter. He was a narrow second in the Kings Trophy at Aby, the first big stakes race for 4-year-old trotters in Sweden, and now he the won Sprintermästaren. So far Don Fanucci Zet has earnings of $302,000.

The mare division was won by Finnish-owned Grande Diva Sisu, she by Ready Cash, and trained and driven by Per Nordström. Grande Diva Sisu followed the favorite, Golden Tricks driven by Ôrjan Kihlström, and won the battle for win in 1:54.3f.