Wilkes-Barre, PA – Nordic Catcher S won Saturday’s (Aug. 22) $100,000 Grade 3 Sebastian K Trot, for older trotters, by 2-3/4 lengths over Resolve To Win in 1:50.3 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, equaling both the world record for a 4-year-old trotting stallion on a five-eighths-mile oval as well as the track record. Hillexotic finished third.
Uncle Peter first set both the world record for a 4-year-old trotting stallion and the Pocono mark in 2013.
Nordic Catcher S and trainer/driver Åke Svanstedt stormed to the front from post 2 in a :25.4 opening quarter before 3-5 favorite Lexus Kody pushed forward from fourth to take the lead passing the grandstand for the first time on the way to a :54.1 half. Nordic Catcher S followed Lexus Kody from the pocket before being flushed to the outside nearing three-quarters by a charging Resolve To Win from the rear of the seven-horse field.
Lexus Kody remained on top to three-quarters, in 1:23.1, but Nordic Catcher S took over from there and opened up daylight on the field en route to his second victory in three races this season since returning from an injury that sidelined him after winning last year’s Hambletonian.
“It’s just great to have him back,” assistant trainer Sarah Svanstedt said. “It was heartbreaking that he got injured in the Hambletonian last year. The process to bring him back, and the rehab he had to do, and making it back, there are no words for it. I’m very happy and proud of him.”
Nordic Catcher S is a son of Six Pack out of the pacing mare That Woman Hanover.
“When I saw the watch at :25(.4), I was thinking that’s a little bit of (the pacer) showing up here,” Sarah Svanstedt said with a laugh. “He has a tremendous gait and he’s big and strong. The track is very nice here today and the weather too. I was thinking (Åke) wanted to be right on a helmet with him, so everything worked out good. It was a good race for him.”
Nordic Catcher S is owned by Åke Svanstedt Inc. and Little E LLC. He was bred by Nordic Horse Farm AB and Joie De Vie Farm. For his career, he has hit the board in 12 of 13 career races, winning seven and earning $880,335.
Sent off as the 6-5 second choice in the race named after former Svanstedt Stable star Sebastian K S, Nordic Catcher S paid $4.60 to win.