Snogarps Gard’s European trotting star Commander Crowe officially committed to the $500,000 Breeders Crown Trot by the noon deadline on Friday, Nov. 7.
The Wihlborg family accepted an invitation for their popular chestnut champion to the race, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 22 at the Meadowlands Racetrack, back in October, but still had to officially enter ahead of the supplemental deadline, which is noon, Monday, Nov. 10, and the eligible entry deadline of 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11 -- all due at The Meadowlands race office. A double draw for the weekend Breeders Crown events will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 11.
As a foreign invitee, Commander Crowe makes up the payments and the starting fee that eligible entries pay, a total of $14,500. However, should more than 11 trotters enter and an elimination be needed, Commander Crowe gets an elimination bye and goes straight to the final. A reciprocal offer is also extended to the North American entrant with the highest money earnings in the field to skip an elimination race.
Commander Crowe made the trip across the ocean easily, passed through the quarantine barn without incident and has been stabled in the Trond Smedshammer barn at White Birch in Allentown, New Jersey since his arrival. He started in the International Trot Preview at Yonkers Racetrack on Oct. 25, finishing second behind Indiana’s native son Natural Herbie.
This will be Commander Crowe's his third appearance in the Breeders Crown. He raced in the Breeders Crown Trot in 2011-2012 at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, finishing third to San Pail and third to Chapter Seven in his respective events.
Two of the top U.S.-based trotters in the open division are not eligible to the Crown: Sebastian K and Natural Herbie, both of whom have indicated they will not supplement to the race. That leaves the door open for Commander Crowe to score his first Crown title or for any of the eligible defending Crown champs – Arch Madness, Intimidate and Market Share – to repeat should they enter.
Superstar mares Bee A Magician and Maven (just purchased for $750,000 at the Harrisburg Sale by Herb Liverman for trainer Jimmy Takter) could also opt to start against the males rather than their $250,000 event, simply by paying the starting fee of $10,000 to the Open Trot.
The $500,000 Breeders Crown Trot is one of 12 championship events worth a total of $5.4 million to be raced at The Meadowlands over the weekend of Friday, Nov. 21 and Saturday, Nov. 22.
For more information visit www.playmeadowlands.com or www.hambletonian.org
Supplemental payments for the Breeders Crown Three-Year-Old Events and Open events are due and payable on Monday, Nov. 10 at 12:00 noon in the racing secretary's office at Meadowlands. There are no supplemental provisions for two-year-olds.
Eligible horses must enter by 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, also at the Meadowlands race office.
The complete list of horses eligible to all 12 Breeders Crown events as well as the racing conditions can be found at www.hambletonian.org.
(Breeders Crown / Hambletonian Society)