Go On Boy won the Elitlopp while racing very well in both heats and taking the historic event for his country of France for the fourth straight year. While his victory on Sunday was the highlight of the weekend for many near and far to Solvalla Racecourse in Sweden, my takeaway was a bit different as I was keen to see the performance of a former North American horse and she took my breath away. We've seen many European horses – Sebastian K, Ecurie D, Aetos Kronos – travel to our shores over the years and do very well, just as some of our horses have gone to Sweden and made a name for themselves. The big difference seems to be that the majority of the horses we send to places like Sweden go at the conclusion of their 3-year-old season, while the ones we get are in most cases older. Sebastian K was 7, Ecurie D was 6 when he arrived and Aetos Kronos is racing now as a 9-year-old. Propulsion is a prime example of a horse that went overseas at a young age (4) and shined, though his dominance was tainted by a nerve procedure he underwent in the U.S. that wasn't permitted in Sweden and wasn't uncovered until later in his career. The newest potential example competed in the race following the Elitlopp eliminations, and she had my full attention. Allegiant, who won the Dan Patch Award in 2024 as the top 3-year-old trotting filly in the United States, was making her second start on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean for new trainer Daniel Redén, who incidentally also conditioned Propulsion. In her first start she trotted away from the field for much of the 2,100 meters and safely coasted home. It was the type of performance which would catch even the casual observer's eye, so seeing the follow-up effort 10 days later versus better competition was something that intrigued me. Racing at the shorter 1,640 meter distance (just over a mile), Allegiant was last with 700 meters to go and had eight horses to pass. Driver Örjan Kihlström sent her three-wide at that point, and they began picking off horses as if they were running in place. Just 200 meters later she was moving into third and in the stretch she trotted away from the field about as easily as a horse can win. I'm not even sure she broke a sweat and the buzz is that she is a potential Elitlopp horse for 2026. This got me thinking, as good as Allegiant was here – winning 11 of 27 races and $1.04 million – could she be an even better horse overseas? Are the best North American trotters, given the opportunity to mature further and shine as older competitors, as good as any of the horses overseas? While you're pondering that thought, consider that U.S.-bred Double Deceiver, a $770K winner here as a 2- and 3-year-old, won the two-heat Sweden Cup at Solvalla on Saturday as a 6-year-old, and Keep Asking, a $598K winner here in his first two years of racing in 2023 and 2024, won his 4-year-old debut at Solvalla and finished second in a stakes race on the Elitlopp undercard. "She's an amazing filly. She has everything," said trainer Redén via email on the topic of Allegiant. "I have not started pushing her in training yet, so everything she does is by talent." That's a scary comment for Allegiant's competition in the future. To think that the two spectacular performances she has put in thus far could be just scratching the surface of what she can do makes her a horse worth tuning in to see worldwide as her season unfolds. According to Redén, many other good North American horses could probably have very successful careers as older horses if allowed to properly mature. "I don't understand why so many talented 3- and 4-year-olds disappear and never get the chance to show their full potential as older horses. I think the American elite should do better and give more young horses the opportunity to develop," said Redén. "But I'm very grateful that I've found so many top horses in the U.S." Keep Asking, who made most of his money here in New York and Massachusetts Sire Stakes races, is a great example according to the trainer of a horse that could truly develop into something special. "He delivered a top performance, finishing second against Europe's best 4-year-olds," said Redén about Keep Asking's Sunday effort. "He arrived in great shape, so we've just kept up the training. I believe he'll compete at the elite level next year — maybe even in Elitloppet." Ponder that statement for a second. Keep Asking, who would certainly be behind Karl, Highland Kismet, Gruesome Twosome, R Melina, Amazing Catch and a bunch of others as potential top 4-year-olds here, might be on the Elitlopp track in 2026. It really makes you think about the ceiling of the North American trotter and its place on the worldwide Standardbred spectrum. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter Nancy Takter 4-year-olds As we are on the topic of 4-year-old trotters, trainer Nancy Takter told us she recently got a pair of new additions to her barn. Highland Kismet and Gruesome Twosome will both be trained by Takter going forward. Unraced as a 2-year-old, Highland Kismet made $529K while winning the Goodtimes and finishing second in the Hambletonian behind Karl for trainer Mark Etsell in 2024. After a pair of qualifiers and a start where he broke and finished last on May 19 this year, the decision was made to switch to Takter. Gruesome Twosome dominated Indiana as a 3-year-old and showed some limited success by getting checks on the Grand Circuit in 2024. Like Highland Kismet, the $693K career winner came to Takter's barn about a week ago, and while both were eligible to the first leg of the Graduate Series at Woodbine Mohawk Park on May 31, neither was entered.  Gruesome Twosome will qualify at the Meadowlands and is in the fifth race on Saturday. According to Takter, Highland Kismet will train a fast mile prior to the card. The second leg of the Graduate is June 13 at the Meadowlands, and logically it would make sense that both trotters will be entered. At some point they are likely to meet up with stable star Karl, but that is way down the road as the Hambletonian winner won't be seen until late summer at the earliest. "He needed a break and he bred all spring, so I haven't really trained him much yet," said Takter about Karl. With three top 4-year-olds potentially in her barn and a family history that has strong ties to Sweden, I couldn't help but ask whether we could see her at the Elitlopp in 2026. "I would love it," said Takter, who surprisingly has never been to the race since she is always busy with New Jersey-sired horses here in late May. Here's hoping both of us get there in 2026 for the first time.