Springsteen song plays as Tetrick directs Sweden Cup elim winner

Bruce Springsteen is famous for his seemingly-endless encores at his concerts, and although Tim Tetrick heard the singer’s anthem of “Born In The USA” blaring over the Solvalla loudspeakers as he brought Colombian Necktie into the winner’s circle following a victory in the first of two Sweden Cup eliminations Saturday afternoon, the driver missed in the final by just a nose of hearing an encore performance of the hit song.

Tetrick directed Colombian Necktie, who started in last year’s Maple Leaf Trot, to a 1:53.2 victory in the first Sweden Cup elim. Tetrick, who brought his own sulky to the famed Swedish racetrack where he will drive the trotting mare Buck I St. Pat in the Elitlopp Sunday afternoon, came back to the winner’s circle as “Born In The USA” was played over the PA system.

Winning the second Sweden Cup elim was Evidence As, who raced for trainer Trond Smedshammer in a Canadian-only campaign in 2006 as a 2 year old, earning $162,794 while competing primarily on the Ontario Sire Stakes circuit.

Tetrick drew the inside post with Colombian Necktie for the final, and after settling in early he moved his charge to the lead. The trotter led until the final stride when he was caught at the wire by the Finnish entry Express Merett, driven by Pekka Korpi, who overcame post eight. The contest was timed in 1:53.3.

Express Merett is a son of Express It, who is a son of Super Bowl-Flory Messenger, thus a full brother to millionaire trotter Express Ride and a half brother to other standouts such as Carry The Message, Harry’s Bar and International Chip. Express It had just 12 foals in 2003, with one being Express Merett.

« Back