The Swedish trotting star with the 23-race winning streak race is in action today at the Aby track in Gothenberg in western Sweden. He is shooting at his 24th straight win in a race over 2,640 meters or 1.65 miles. He's never been beaten in a race in his career.
Commander Crowe was out of action from July 5 until September 29 when he won his comeback. I encountered his trainer Petri Puro at the Hambletonian media luncheon at the Meadowlands in early August. He told me that the horse was a little sick and he was simply going to take his time in letting him recover and get back to the races.
His plan worked. When the five-year-old gelding returned to the races, he returned as a winner.
When I was in Lexington for the Grand Circuit recently, I spoke to a Swedish guy about Commander Crowe at some length. (I often think that there are more Swedes in Lexington during the races and sales than North American natives.)
I told him that I got the impression that Commander Crowe was being managed to avoid the absolute best horses in order to keep the winning streak alive. My belief came from the decision to skip the Elitlopp with Commander Crowe this year. I assumed that Puro might wait until he's six before trying him against the bearcats in the Elitlopp.
"No, I don't think that's true," my Swedish friend. "I don't know that the Elitlopp is a race for him. Two heats at one mile might not be his best race. He's got that French blood, you know."
Commander Crowe does have a bit of French blood, but, like so many good European horses, his pedigree is Franco-American. His sire is the French Juliano Star, who isn't really entirely French as his grandsire is Royal Prestige (Speedy Crown). Juliano Star is out of a mare by the top French stallion Florestan, who just happens to be a son of Star's Pride.
Commander Crowe's dam is by Mack Lobell out of a Speedy Somolli second dam – that's a formula for real trotting speed.
My Swedish friend felt that Commander Crowe might not be a good fit for a two-heat sprint race like the Elitlopp. He felt that the Harper Hanover's race, a two-mile event, might be better suited to his style of racing.
Commander Crowe is hardly your typical Standardbred in appearance because he's a chestnut with lots of chrome or white markings.
Races at varying distances are one of the aspects about European racing that I enjoy most. I just read that Solvalla, the track in Sweden is hosting a 4,100-meter race soon. Do the math – that's tad over 2.5 miles.
On the same program, Solvalla will conduct a race over 1,140 meters or less than three-quarters of mile.
I wish more tracks in North America would offer patrons this type of racing diversity. Surely the horses that are competitive over 2.5 miles may not be competitive in the sprint race and vice versa. Different strokes for different folks, and different distances for different horses.
The Commander is back and aiming for victory 24.
Dean Hoffman, one of North America's most prolific harness racing journalists and member of the U.S. Harness Racing Hall of Fame, offers SC website readers his weekly look at international standardbred racing through his eyes.