by Karsten Bønsdorf, , USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

The French trotter Timoko, driven by Björn Goop, fought bravely to win the Kymi Grand Prix in Finland by a neck beating veteran trotter Commander Crowe.

For the first time since his victory in the Elitlopp Timoko returned to action Saturday afternoon at the Kouvola racetrack in Finland.

Though he had to start from the second tier, behind the gate he was the heavy favorite at 1-2.

Commander Crowe, an 11-year-old driven by Robin Bakker, was soon in command, while Timoko was parked outside without cover. Going into the last bend it looked as if Timoko had tired – but he was having problems getting round at the Finnish 5/8 mile track, which has very narrow turns. Down the stretch Timoko got himself together and fought bravely to win by a neck over Commander Crowe, while fast-finishing Up Date Hos on the outside took third.

The purse for the winner was $115,000.

Later Saturday night Nahar – winner of the Elitlopp 2013 – won the Norrbotten Grand Prix at Boden, Sweden with a purse for the winner of $150,000. Nahar, driven by Robert Bergh, was a narrow winner over long-leading Raja Mirchi driven by Adrian Kolgjini.

No racetrack in the world is placed more northern than Boden and Saturday racing was held under the midnight Sun.