After making it into the final via placing of Canadian trotter Define The World, German trotter Brioni and driver Joakim Lövgren made the most of the opportunity with a thrilling victory in the 2011 Elitlopp

at Solvalla Racecourse in Sweden.

In similar fashion to his elimination, Rakas was hustled away early from Post 5 as favoured Rapide Lebel made a brief miscue but was reset quickly and thus not disqualified. Arch Madness was angled out from the rail to take a shot at the lead. To his outside, Wishing Stone was three wide around the first turn and outbrushed Arch Madness to make it to the front before Bjorn Goop settled Arch Madness on the lead.

Outside pressure came at Arch Madness in the form of Yarrah Boko, with Libeccio Grip following that trotter on the outside. Rapide Lebel started his attack three wide just past the half to apply pressure and the field trotted with little movement through three-quarters.

In the stretch, the backfield started to get to Arch Madness as Rapide Lebel powered past and appeared to be in the clear but Brioni, who was fourth on the rail the entire race until the stretch, tipped out for a wicked stretch drive. Closing on Rapide Lebel with every stride, Lövgren was able to urge Brioni home for the narrow victory, up in the last inches to nail Rapide Lebel with Rakas edging out Yarrah Boko for third. Libeccio Grif rounded out the top five with Arch Madness (6th), Lisa America (7th) and Wishing Stone (8th) completing the field.

Earlier in the day Rapide Lebel launched a wicked late brush to capture the first elimination over Wishing Stone, Libeccio Grif and Define The World who was disqualified from fourth, moving up fifth place finisher Brioni.

Arch Madness was an impressive winner in the second Elitlopp elimination. Driver Bjorn Goop allowed Rakas to leave quickest from the gate before making a quick move to the front with Arch Madness, who was never seriously challenged throughout the mile and pulled away for an open length victory ahead of Yarrah Boko, Rakas and Lisa America.

“This is a spectacle I’ve never seen in harness racing,” said co-owner Barry Goldstein after the elimination win. “I’ve been in it over 40 years and this is the best.”

The field for 2011 Elitlopp is below. All connections chose post positions, with winners drawing to choose first, followed by place finishers, show finishers and fourth-place horses.

1. Arch Madness
2. Rapide Lebel
3. Wishing Stone
4. Yarrah Boko
5. Rakas
6. Libeccio Grif
7. Lisa America
8. Brioni