No Elitlopp trip for Arch Madness

There will not be a trip overseas this spring for older trotter Arch Madness. Trond Smedshammer, the trainer and sometimes driver of the 5-year-old gelding, was considering a trip to Sweden for the Elitlopp in May.

Arch Madness, who has won $1.6 million lifetime, finished ninth in the second leg of the Su Mac Lad Series on March 27 at the Meadowlands Racetrack. It was his first start this season. He started the race from post nine.

“It’s early and you’ve got to have a few races under your belt before you go over there,” said Smedshammer, who finished second with HP Paque in the 2002 Elitlopp, which was won by Varenne. “There is so much money to be made here; I’m not going to jeopardize the whole summer to get him ready.”

Last year, Arch Madness was a model of consistency, winning three times and finishing no worse than second in nine of 11 starts. His top triumph came in the Maple Leaf Trot and he was second in the Breeders Crown, Nat Ray, Classic Series, Titan Cup and Allerage.

Smedshammer will give Arch Madness a couple weeks off and then begin preparing for the second round of the Classic Series, which is May 1 at the Meadowlands. As a 3-year-old, Arch Madness finished ninth in his second start (and first stakes) of the season and last year he was fifth in his first race.

“It takes him a few starts to get on top of his game,” Smedshammer said. “I knew we had to come out a little earlier to have a chance to have him ready for those races (in Europe). It’s just a little too early in the season, I think.” (HRC)

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