Hail Mary claims victory in Hugo Abergs Memorial

Hail Mary (7m Googoo Gaagaa-Dreams-Victory Dream) escaped a parked first over trip to surge past pacesetter Ultion Face and secure a harness racing length victory at 3.3/1 odds.

Orjan Kihlstrom teamed the Daniel Reden trainee for owner Stall Mary AB as he won for the 25th time from 40 career starts. He has four wins in six 2023 outings. His career earnings advanced to 14,471,654SEK with this Hugo Abergs Memorial win (1609 meters autostart, 1,609,000SEK first prize, 800,000SEK for second money). Vivid Wise As (9m Yankee Glide-Temple Blue Chip-Cantab Hall) rallied from ninth to be second to the line for trainer/driver Alessandro Gocciadoro at 4.25/1 odds. Hierro Boko (9g From Above-Staro Almighty-Yankee Glide) also rallied in the lane to be third in a photo with Sanittu Raitala driving for trainer Hennu Korpi at 8.5/1. Howdy Partner (6m Repeat Love) at 41.8/1 and Power (7m Googoo Gaagaa) at 19.6/1 landed fourth and fifth money. Race time was a sharp 1.09.5kr over the mile distance.

This evening’s superb sprinter dominated card also showcased the Premio Going Kronos (Breeders Course three year olds second final 2023, Gr. II International, 1640 meters autostart, 800,000SEK first money or 69,280€). The 1.6/1 odds favorite Ester Degli Dei (3f Maharajah-Twill Be Done-Donato Hanover) preserved on the pegs for a 1.11.7kr timed score. Robin Bakker teamed the Paul JP Hagoort trainee for owner L,C.J. Schalkoort. Eros Jet (3m Maharajah-Nocciolaia Jet-Pine Chip) battled all the way and landed second at 8.95/1 with 7.1/1 Everything Bi (3m Varenne-Las Brisas Bi-Toss Out) third.

The speed began this program in the STL Silver (125,000SEK first money or 10,825€, 1640 meters autostart, nine starters) as Comes With Age (6g Zola Boko-Patina-Viking Kronos) scored in 1.09.9kr with Orjan Kihlstrom the pilot at 16.6/1 odds. This was the winners’ 10th career victory in 48 starts. Jimmy Ferro BR (5, Love You-Avalon Transs R -Super Arnie) rushed to the lead nearing the halfway point, opened lengths on the field and then tired for second with trainer Alessandro Gocciadoro aboard. Arvid SH (8g Scarlet Knight-Stargirl-Juliano Star) landed third for driver Thomas Uhrberg.

In the Hetlges Glasmasteri Prix Cagnes sur Mer (purse to winner 200,000SEK or 17,320€, 1640 meters autostart, 1640 meters, seven starters all four year olds) the 2.3/1 odds favorite Denver Gio (4m Southwind Frank-Swan Wise As-Varenne) secured an easy front end victory timed in 1.10.9kr. The Alessandro Gocciadoro trained and reined trotteur is owned in Italy by Licciardi Francesco and he won for the 12th time in 26 career appearances. Hurricane DK (4g Father Patrick-Scully’s Girl-Muscle Hill) was second for driver Micha Brouwer and trainer Paul JP Hagoort at 71.8/1 odds. BA Superhero (4m Muscle Hill-Win Missy B-Conway Hall) was third for trainer/driver Bo Westergaard at 3.2/1 with Periculum (4m Muscle Hill-Amour Heiress-Cantab Hall) home fourth for Orjan Kihlstrom driving for Daniel Reden and Brixton Medical.

After an evening of sprinter distance autostart races, this one was the Malmo Stads Pris 2023 – Summer Meeting Stayer (300,000SEK to the winner, 25,980€, 3140 meters voltstart). The 6.9/1 Millmighty (7m Make It Happen-Millmove-Pine Chip) scored easily on the front end timed in 1.14.1kr. The Kort Ingress owned Norwegian performer was reined by his trainer Paw Mahony. King Schermer (6g Trixton-Rania-Viking Kronos) was a distant second at 5.9/1 overcoming a 20 meter handicap. Michel F. Rothengatter trains and drove King Schermer. Third was 6.8/1 and 20 meter handicapped Versace Face (6g Joke Face-Perle River-Infinitif) piloted by Orjan Kihlstrom for the Stall Zet/Daniel Reden team.

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink