White Bliss qualifies
October 9, 2014,by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications
Freehold, NJ — White Bliss, the rare all-white Standardbred in the stable of trainer Ake Svanstedt, made his first trip to the track Thursday (Oct. 9), finishing fourth in a qualifier at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
The 2-year-old colt pacer was timed in 1:58.1 with Svanstedt driving.
White Bliss is a son of stallion Art Major out of the mare Coochie Mama, both bays. The last time two bays produced a white Standardbred in North America was in 1998.
The colt was purchased for $240,000 at the 2013 Standardbred Horse Sale. He is owned by Knutsson Trotting Inc., which is brothers Michael Knutsson and Tristan Sjoberg of trotter Sebastian K fame, along with Asa Sjoberg.
Following the qualifier, Tristan Sjoberg said via his Twitter account that it was “a good experience” for White Bliss. He said the horse will qualify again next week at Pocono Downs and “hopefully start one or two weeks later.”