Ecurie D DK became the first repeater of the Breeders Crown Open Trot Championship in 19 years on Saturday night (Oct. 29) at Woodbine Mohawk Park, tying the stakes record of 1:51 in winning the $810,000 event while matching the successive scores of Fools Goal in 2002-2003 — the latter win at Woodbine.
Trainer Åke Svanstedt, winning his second Crown of the night and third of the weekend, selected Dexter Dunn to handle Ecurie D DK (the “DK” indicates he is Danish-bred; the breeder is Jean Pierre Dubois) as one of four horses he sent out in this Crown. Ecurie D DK had gotten “hot” in the Yonkers International in his last start and tired after setting scalding fractions; the son of Infinitif was much more tractable in his Crown, going right to the lead ahead of 2021 sophomore Crown winner Jujubee and setting fractions of :27.1, :55.2 and 1:23 at the last pole starting to go clear of his field.
No one was able to get near Ecurie D DK in the stretch with Jujubee three lengths behind in closest pursuit of the winner at the finish. Unfortunately, Jujubee made a break nearing the wire, and after an inquiry was placed back to fourth, with Amigo Volo (coincidentally, the 2020 Three-Year-Old Crown winner and let go here at 102-1) elevated from third to second and Its Academic placed from fourth to third. But they were all trotting for the minor honours behind Ecurie D DK, who gave Dunn his third Crown win of the night and put him equal with Svanstedt as the only three-time 2022 Crown winners at the time.
Ecurie D DK is owned by Marko Kreivi Stables, Suleyman Yuksel Stables and Åke Svanstedt Inc. Ecurie D DK was two-for-two when he came to North America last season and, in 2022, he now has two wins, two seconds and a third in six starts (his only off-the-board finish in North America was in the International Trot). The six-year-old has earned $1,105,061 in his eight North American starts, and $1,495,430 lifetime, as he was 15-for-21 on the continent. He took his mark of 1:49.1 while setting a world record in his first start of the year, in the Cutler at The Meadowlands on May 21, and his 1:51 mile in the Crown equals the stakes record held by Market Share (2013) and Commander Crowe (2014).
Ecurie D DK was sent off as the 6-5 favourite of this outstanding field, bringing the count of winning favourites to five in the first 11 Crowns, with three seconds and two thirds over the weekend.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
For complete coverage of the 2022 Breeders Crown championships, click here.
(With files from Woodbine)