107,368€ Copenhagen Cup to Barack Face

Barack Face (5m Ready Cash-Lisa America-Varenne) was a coast-to-coast winner of today’s (May 12) famous Copenhagen Cup at Charlottenlend Trab in Demark. Timed in 1.11.6kr over 2011 meters autostart, the winner won for the eighth time in 18 career starts and first win in 2024 in this his only appearance.

Trainer Adrian Kolgjii was at the lines for co-owners Stall Behall AB and Ellefstromgramer AB. The winner was bred by Lutfi Kolgjini and Anna Svensson. Lutfi acquired this champion mare Lisa America (2005, Varenne-Zagabria Dei-Victory Dream=Donnina) from the estate of Lou Guida who bred Lisa at Guida Italia Srl and she was campaigned by Jerry Riordan to earnings of 1,389.617€ with 22 wins from 65 starts. She was a fixture at the Prix d’Amerique.

Barack Face earned 51,734€ today in a race with a total purse of 107,368€. The winner was off at 2.1/1 odds, the favorite. Hustle Rain (5m Raja Mirchi-Miss Possessed-Self Possessed) was second for Magnus A. Djuse and trainer Mattias Djuse. Third home was 25.3/1 Kagan (6f Scarlet Knight-Lima Midnite Magic-Muscle Hill) with trainer Robert Bergh driving. Oscar RL and Demon were scratch leaving eight horses at the start.

Last year Onas Prince won timed in 1.10.2kr and in 2022 Mister F Daag won the Cup in 1.11.5kr and in 2015 Robert Bi set the speed record of 1.10.0kr with his victory. The later pair were driven by Robin Bakker who today won three races with Ester Degi Dei, Y Not Diamant and Fly Eques Jet.

To watch the race replay, click here.

The Copenhagen Cup was inaugurated in 1928 at Charlottenlund that was established in 1891 by the Danish Trotting Club. It has hosted several Cup multiple winners – three times by Meadow Roland and twice by Walter Dear and Ideal du Gazeau. Winners with USA connections include Wishing Stone, Legendary Lover K, Moni Maker, SJ’s Photo with David Wade driving, Pershing, Keystone Pioneer, Elaine Rodney and Glass Hanover.

The undercard today showcased the Mares Elite (2000 meters autostart, 9,700€ to the winner) that was won by 3.5/1 odds Glorius Rain (5f Donato Hanover-Burning Rain-Muscle Hill) in 1.12.9kr with trainer Flemming Jensen aboard. She is two for two in ’24 and has 13 career victories in 40 appearances. Flemming also won the Copenhagen Open with Extreme at 1.9/1 odds.

A huge crowd was on-track for this special race leading to the Elitloppet at Solvalla in two weeks.

Charlottenlund Trab, Veikkaus, ATG files/photos

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink