Reports from Sweden indicate that the photogenic and ultra-talented trotter Commander Crowe will be racing in North America for the remainder of this year, and possibly staying longer.
Trot Insider learned that the Hambletonian Society had extended an invitation for Commander Crowe to race in the 2014 Breeders Crown following his win in the Åby Stora Pris invitational event at Åby Racetrack in Mölndal, Sweden. Coincidentally, that race was won in 2012 and 2013 by Sebastian K -- a trotter that has solidified his dominance over the aged trotting division since his first start on North American soil earlier this year.
Harness racing fans will remember Commander Crowe from his first stint on North American soil three years ago. It was at Woodbine Racetrack in a classic match-up that pitted European invaders Commander Crowe and Rapide Lebel against local hero San Pail in the 2011 Breeders Crown Open Trot.
One year later, Commander Crowe came back to Woodbine and tested Chapter Seven in the 2012 Breeders Crown. On both occasions, Commander Crowe finished third.
According to Swedish press, the Breeders Crown might not be Commander Crowe's only race. There's a chance the eleven-year-old son of Juliano Star - Somack will also race at The Red Mile in the Allerage Farm Open Trot on September 28, and thus skip the 2,500 metre Masters event at Charlottenlund in Denmark.
“We haven’t really had time to talk about that. The trainer, Fabrice Souloy, will decide what to do,” co-owner Barbro Wihlborg told Sweden's ATG. "2,500 metres is probably a too long distance. He is more into sprint distance now.”
Winning 60 of his 102 lifetime races, Commander Crowe has earned nearly $5 million and has a mark of 1:50.4 that he took in 2012. That mile time is the fastest in Swedish harness racing over the distance, a mark equaled this year by Panne de Moteur in his Elitlopp heat win.
Wihlborg also told ATG that once Commander Crowe leaves for the U.S., he'll have concluded his career at home.
“If we cross the Atlantic Ocean it will be the last thing you see from him here in Sweden.”