by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Senior Newsroom Correspondent

Top Swedish trotter On Track Piraten, driven by Johnny Takter, won the prestigious Silver Horse Trophy at Solvalla Saturday afternoon (Nov. 26). It was his second consecutive win from two races since the 8-year-old gelding competed in the International Trot at Yonkers Raceway in Oct.

Kanal 75 photo

On Track Piraten and Johnny Takter take the Silver Horse Trophy at Solvalla on Saturday afternoon.

“This horse is just marvelous,” said Takter. “I strongly believe that he is one of the best trotters in the world in races over 1-5/16 mile and longer at a five-eighths mile track.”

This was On Track Piraten’s eighth win in 2016 from 20 races. Adding the purse for the win Saturday victory, his lifetime earnings went past $1.4 million.

The final in the Solvalla Series for 4-year old trotters was on the same card yesterday.

Wild Honey, driven by Björn Goop, and Uncle Lasse, driven by Ôrjan Kihlström, were favored to win. However, both were not on top of their game and instead, another North American bred trotter Workout Wonder, driven by Tommi Kylliainen, won.

Workout Wonder, campaigned in the United States by Noel Daley, was sold to Finland in April and has now raced seven times in his new nation. This was his third win and not only the richest, with a purse of $43,000, but also the most prestigious.

At Vincennes another 4-year old top trotter, Traders, driven by David Thomain won the Prix de Chenonceaux, a Group III race over 1-11/16 mile. The purse for the winner was $47,500.

An Italian bred, Traders, who recently was an upset winner over Bold Eagle, is trained by Philippe Allaire and is headed for the classic Criterium Continental at Vincennes in late Dec.

The winner of the Criterium Continental receives a spot in the Prix d’Amerique.