by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

Earlier today connections of Wishing Stone and Lisa America accepted invitations to race in the Elitlopp at Solvalla on Sunday, May 29.

“It’s mainly the trainer’s decision,” said Knud Erik Raun, who is the principal owner of Wishing Stone. “Fabrice Souloy has convinced me, as well as the other owners, that Wishing Stone will have a very good chance in the Elitlopp. The driver, Jean Michel Bazire, says that if Wishing Stone and Commander Crowe, who he also will drive in an elimination, both qualify for the final, then he will stick to Wishing Stone!”

It will be the second consecutive year that Lou Guida’s Lisa America will race in the Elitlopp. Last year she finished sixth in an elimination and thus didn’t qualify for the final.

“But I believe that Lisa America is in much better form this year, so I’m hopeful that she will qualify for the final,” her trainer Jerry Riordan said.