Trainer Eriksson Wins Another Hambletonian

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Trainer Per Eriksson won his second consecutive Hambletonian and third in four years as Alf Palema upset stablemate King Conch by a head Saturday.

Eriksson won the 1989 Hambletonian with Prakas and last year’s event with Giant Victory.

King Conch was one of the preseason favorites for the Hambletonian and won the second division earlier in the day. The son of Speedy Crown led almost every step of the way in the final until the final strides.

Coming into the final, Alf Palema, a Speedy Somolli colt out of Highland Bridget, had won only once in nine starts and earned $39,496. Alf Palema trotted the mile in 1:56 3/5, three seconds off the stakes record set by Mack Lobell in 1987.

Alf Palema, who was coupled in the betting with King Conch, returned $8.40, $8.40 and $6.40 and earned $552,000 for his owners, Eriksson and Karl-Erik Bender, a Swedish native who lives in Orlando, Fla.

The loss was frustrating to driver John (Sonny) Patterson Jr., who drove Alf Palema in most of his starts this year. Eriksson asked McNichol to drive for the Hambletonian because Patterson was to handle King Conch.