The 2017 Hambletonian winner Perfect Spirit, with top Swedish driver Ôrjan Kihlström, went to the post as the 7-10 favorite in the Breeders Crown for 4-year-old horses and geldings (1-5/16 mile) on Sunday (Nov. 11) at the Eskilstuna Track, but in a photo finish he had to settle for second.

Around the last corner Perfect Spirit was in command, but though he tried hard, he could not resist fast finishing outsider Selmer I H, driven by Mika Forss, who just managed to get his nose in front at the finish line.

The win time was 1:55f (mile rate).

Amateur-trained Selmer I H is sired by top French stallion Love You and is out of an Andover Hall mare.

The Breeders Crown for 4-year-old mares was won by the favorite Mellby Free (she by Muscle Hill), driven by her trainer, Björn Goop. Mellby Free, who was in command the whole trip, was timed in 1:56.2f (mile rate).

Both divisions in the Breeders Crown for 3-year-olds were won by offspring of SJ’s Caviar.

Global Welcome, driven by Erik Adielsson, came from behind to win the colt division in 1:56.1f (mile rate), while Conrads Rödluva with trainer/driver Björn Goop was in command the whole trip and won the filly division easily in 1:56.3f.

The purse for the winner in each Breeders Crown division was $90,000.