by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Senior Newsroom Correspondent

The 23-1 shot Twister Bi, driven by Christoffer Eriksson, came from behind to win the Oslo Grand Prix at Bjerke Sunday afternoon (June 11), followed by the local hero Lionel, driven by Göran Antonsen, while Aubrion du Gers, driven by Jos Verbeeck, finished third.

Gerard Forni photo

Twister Bi won the Oslo Grand Prix on Sunday.

Twister Bi is an Italian 5-year-old trotter sired by Varenne. He is trained in Sweden by USA-expat, Jerry Riordan, who also won Oslo Grand Prix in 2010 with Lisa America.

The purse for the winner was $175,000.

French trotter Aubrion du Gers, trained by Jean Michel Bazire, but with Jos Verbeeck in the bike, was the favorite, but came away slowly from post position eight and though he finished well, he was never really in the picture.

It was a great day for Italian trotters as the Bjerke Cup, raced with two eliminations and a final over the mile, was won by another 5-year-old Italian trotter, Turno di Azzurra, driven by Ôrjan Kihlström.

Turno di Azzurra is trained by Erik Bondo, who also sent Shadow Gar out to win an open trot for mares, driven by Erik Adielsson.

Further, the longest race of the day was also won by an Italian trotter, Titanium Gar, driven by Hugo Langeweg Jr.