Ake Svanstedt has had a lot of success at Plainridge Park over the last couple of years and his trotters have made quite an impression in Massachusetts.

He trained Incommunicado, who was a two-time Massachusetts Sire Stakes champion, Jonas KS, who set a track and stakes record in the 2022 Bunker Hill Trot, and Alrajah One IT, who won the Spirit of Massachusetts Trot last year while setting a new track record for an older trotting horse. 

Alrajah One IT will not be back to defend his Spirit title this year; however, Svanstedt had six others eligible and will start two who are more than capable of winning the 2023 edition of the $250,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot that will be held at Plainridge Park on Sunday (July 23).  

The first is Asteroid, who raced in the U.S. as a two-year-old but was exported to Norwegian trainer Frode Hamre after that to take advantage of stakes opportunities there. And that move paid off as he was one of the best where he was racing. 

“Asteroid competed in stakes races in Europe at three and four in both Norway and Sweden and was a top five trotter while he was there. He came back to me in the states because he has the same owner as Ecurie D DK and I also have horses with him in Sweden. We thought he would fit well racing back here as a five-year-old,” said Svanstedt.

While in Europe, Asteroid won 13 races in only 20 starts and $193,366 (USD) in purses. Some of his racing highlights while there include winning the Big Noon Cup at Solvalla in 2021 and finishing second in the Solvalla Grand Prix.

“He is a very good horse, but I don’t know exactly where we have him right now. He raced okay last week but that was only his first start back [since last November]. So maybe he can be a little better this week,” said Svanstedt.

Svanstedt’s other entry is Rattle My Cage, who is coming off a career year highlighted by winning the $250,000 Graduate final at the Meadowlands, which was also the culminating victory of a four-race win streak.

This year, Rattle My Cage only has three starts back, but he hit the board all three times and was race timed in 1:50.3 and 1:50.4, respectively, in his last two starts at the Meadowlands.

“Rattle My Cage came back good this year and has raced well so far. He is training good and everything is normal with him so I’m expecting a good race out of him this Sunday. He can leave fast and I hope to get a good position with him early,” said Svanstedt.  

As previously noted, Alrajah One IT is not in the Spirit this year even though he was eligible. But there's a very good reason for that. Svanstedt explained that he was on a farm, breeding for 2-1/2 months earlier this year. But he was put back in training after that and is now ready to make his racing comeback and will be qualifying Saturday morning (July 22) at the Meadowlands.

Svanstedt is also starting Valar Dohaeris in the $100,000 Clara Barton Distaff Pace, which is the secondary feature on Sunday's Grand Circuit card. The mare finished third in back to back starts behind Niki Hill and Treacherous Dragon in the New Jersey Maturity in April and has since taken a lifetime mark of 1:51.4 at the Meadowlands. Valar Dohaeris has drawn post one for this outing. 

Post time for the Spirit of Massachusetts Day card is 2 p.m. but gates will open at 1 p.m. for an afternoon that will feature an array of activities.

Owners, trainers and their connections of horses racing in the stakes will be treated to a welcome luncheon in the Boylston Room, upstairs in the grandstand.

Todd Angilly of the Boston Bruins will be singing the national anthem before the first race and will also be performing at other times during the day along with the Berkshire Valley Boys, who will be providing entertainment throughout the day between races.

Guests will be able to get a free Plainridge Park commemorative 25th anniversary hat compliments of Plainridge Park Casino and the Harness Horseman’s Association of New England and B101-FM Providence will be on the property giving fans a chance to win racing binoculars compliments of Plainridge Park Casino and B101-FM.

The Home Stretch food truck will be available near The Patio and a bar will be open at The Hut outside of the grandstand.  

(Plainridge Park)