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 star on U.S. soil this fall.
Commander Crowe
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.
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
& 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 years Breeders Crown for older
trotters,” said Joakim Wihlborg via emial.
”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.
Trainer Fabrice
Souloy reports that Commander Crowe will arrive in the U.S. in mid-October.
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.
