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Trainer takes top 3 spots in Sweden's Olympic Trot

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April 19, 2008

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Swedish trainer Ake Svanstedt swept the top three spots of the Olympic Trot final in Gothenburg, Sweden, Saturday as he horse Torvald Palema won the race, and his other

horses, Adams Hall and Finders Keeper, finishes second and third, respectively, giving a net of over $420,000 to the stable.

Svanstedt had two horses earn their way into the final while Torvald Palema had taken the chance to qualify but failed, although he was later invited as a "wildcard."

Finders Keeper (Keepitinthefamily) is the absolutely fastest behind the gate and immediately took command and then ended up third at the rail. He yielded to Torvald Palema after the first quarter while the second choice and Svanstedt entry, Adams Hall (Garland Lobell), was the third leader after less than 600 meters.

The betting favorite, the French entry Kito du Vivier, started from post 10 and had to overcome starting in the second tier. He was followed by Opal Viking (Turnpike Taylor) and Going Kronos (Viking Kronos), but they never entered the match. The speed during the way was kept hard and equal to around a 1:56 to 1:57 mile, which makes it tough for trailers to get into the race.

The positions were kept until the last turn. Svanstedt challenged with Torvald Palema on the outside to down Adams Hall in good time. Torvald Palema was an easy winner with a 2 1/2-length margin and was timed in a mile rate of 1:56.1 over 2,140 meters.

Torvald Palema, who earned $250,000, has always shown a lot of talent but has not used it in every race. But he is certainly one of the fastest trotters ever in Sweden. He's a son of Alf Palema and out of the classic stakes winner Gina Roy (by Speedy Min). He is owned by the Dream Team Stable and was bred by Karl Erik Bender's Palema Stud.

Bender won the Hambletonian with Alf Palema, and also captured the Olympic Trot with Gidde Palema, who won the race three years in a row for Svanstedt.

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