Banderas Bi wins Ulf Thoresen Grand Invitational

Banderas Bi (6m Ganymede-Ida Grandi-Toss Out) made a ninth to death seat move at the 600-meter mark and drew off in the lane for the 1.10.3kr harness racing victory in the Ulf Thoresen Grand Invitational (70,412€ to winner, 2100 meters autostart, 10 starters) at Jarlsberg, Norway on Sunday (July 9).

Alessandro Gocciadoro trains and teamed the winner for owner Pachino Horse SRLS as Banderas won for the fifth time in eight 2023 starts and his 11^th career victory. He was off at 5.82.1 odds from post 10.

Power (7m Googoo Gaagaa-La Vici-Orlando Vici) rallied late for second after being blocked down the lane with trainer Robert Bergh driving at 11.3/1 odds. Feydeau Seven (8m Redeo Josselyn) was third for magnus Telen Gundersen at 37.2/1. The Yonkers International invitee Get A Wish was unplaced and well-regarded Mister Hercules ended seventh.

There were a host of top-class events on the undercard. The Anders Jahres race (13,202€ first prize, 2100 meters autostart, 10 starters) saw 3.7/1 Falcon Eye (6m Father Patrick-French Rolls-Viking Way) score in 1.11.8kr. Peter Untersteiner teamed the winner to defeat 1.86/1 favorite BA Superhero (4m Muscle Hill-Win Missy B-Conway Hall) handled by Bi Westergaard.

The fastest race of the day was in the Mares Elite (8,802€ to winner, 1609 meters autostart) as 1.78/1 favorite Zeudi AMG (8f Ideale Luis-Ironica Spin-Ganymede) scored in 1.09.3kr for trainer/driver Gocciadoro. This was her 27^th career win in 60 starts and second 2023 win. Gabi Kyvsgard (5f From Above-Vive la France-Great Challenger) tool second at 14.5/1 with trainer Bo Westergaard driving.

In the Jarlsberg Grand Prix Finale for Mares (17,603€ first money, 1609 meters autostart, 10 starters) the 2.35/1 favorite NY Moet (4f Muscle Mass-Partys On-Chocolatier) scored in 1.10.9kr for Asbjern Tengsareld. Bunny (4f foaled in the USA-Bullyoung-Buckaroo K) was second at 3.65/1 odds for driver Tom Erik Solberg.

The US bred Tipsy Bartender (4f Bar Hopping-Seaside-Yankee Glide) won an Open (8,802€ to the winner, 2100 meters autostart, 12 starters) timed in 1.11.5kr. Off at 7.53/1 odds this mare was reined by trainer Frode Hamre.

She recorded her ninth career victory in 17 starts and first win in 2023. Her dam Seaside was a Grand Circuit winning filly at age two and three in the US for owner Tom Dillon.  Dragons Bar (4m Oropuro Bar) was second at 1.87/1 favorite odds with trainer Gocciadoro driving.

Jarlsberg, Veikkaus, ATG files/photos

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink