As many handicappers expected, supplemental entrant Ecurie D DK and trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt had no problem steamrolling to a 1:52 triumph in the Breeders Crown Open Trot.

Sent off as the 1-2 favourite, Ecurie D DK sparred on the outside with Its Academic to the quarter pole in :27.3 before clearing to the lead. As soon as he cleared, he came under attack from Forbidden Trade.

That Hambletonian winner brushed to the top and had the field chasing him past the mid-way point in :55.1. Ready For Moni then rolled up first over on the rim and pressed Forbidden Trade to the three-quarter pole in 1:24.2. Svanstedt was able to angle off the rail at that point with Ecurie D DK, and the favourite swept past the battling leaders and drew clear to win impressively over Back Of The Neck and Ready For Moni.

The five-year-old son of Infinitif-To Soon registered his second win in as many tries on North American soil while improving his 2021 record to 3-1-0 from six assignments. The 17-time winner has stashed away $783,369 in career earnings for Marko Kreivi Stables Inc, Suleyman Yuksel Stables Inc. and Ake Svanstedt Inc.

In addition to racing without shoes in front, Ecurie D also races with cotton in his ears, as opposed to the usual ear plugs.

“I shouldn’t say he’s a hot horse, but mentally he races fresh, so Åke prefers to try and keep him calm (by using the cotton),” explained Svanstedt’s wife, Sarah. “(Åke) found his way out (in the last turn) and he finished good.”

Ecurie D became the fifth European-based trotter to capture the Breeders Crown Open Trot, joining Bold Eagle (France, 2019), Commander Crowe (Sweden, 2014), Equinox Bi (Italy, 2007) and Varenne (Italy, 2001).

All the recaps from Saturday's Breeders Crown finals can be found in the 2021 Breeders Crown News Centre.

(with files from Breeders Crown)