The connections of Swedish star Commander Crowe have officially accepted an invitation to the $500,000 Breeders Crown Trot for the third time, and the chestnut champion will make his first start on U.S. soil this fall.
Commander Crowe raced in the Breeders Crown Trot in 2011-2012 at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, where he finished third to San Pail and third to Chapter Seven in his respective events.
Since moving to the stable of French trainer Fabrice Souloy in 2010, Commander Crowe, now 11, is still going strong. He earned a Breeders Crown invitation by winning the Aby Stora Pris, a Grade 1 event in Gothenburg, Sweden, in August. Owned by Snogarps Gard AB (Barbro Wihlborg, Ulf Wihlborg and Joakim Wihlborg) the gelded son of Juliano Star-Somack-Mack Lobell has won 60 races in 103 starts, for earnings of $4.7 million.
“We are delighted to accept your kind invitation for our horse Commander Crowe in order to participate in this year’s Breeders Crown for older trotters,” Joakim Wihlborg said via email.
“We are fully aware of the conditions and we are looking forward to be a part of the big event.”
The last invited foreign horse to win the Breeders Crown Trot was Italian sensation Varenne, who captured the trophy with a then-world-record 1:51.1 at the Meadowlands Racetrack.
Trainer Fabrice Souloy has stated that Commander Crowe will arrive in the U.S. in mid-October. Harnessracing.com has reported that the horse will in fact start in the International Trot.
The $500,000 Breeders Crown Trot is one of 12 championship events worth a total of $5.6 million to be raced at the Meadowlands Racetrack over the weekend of Friday, November 21 and Saturday, November 22.
(Hambletonian Society / Breeders Crown)