by Moira Fanning, publicity director, the Hambletonian Society
Cranbury, NJ — “We are happy and proud to accept the invitation to the Breeders Crown!” read the RSVP from Commander Crowe’s owner Calle Wihlborg, upon receipt of the second and final invitation to travel to Woodbine in Toronto, Canada, for the $600,000 Breeders Crown Trot on Sat., Oct. 29.
Commander Crowe is an 8-year-old Swedish-bred son of Juliano Star-Somack, conditioned by French trainer Fabrice Soulay. In his last two starts in France he trotted the fasted mile ever in Europe at Cagnes-Sur-Mer (1:50.4) and then breezed to an easy win in the Prix d’Ete at Vincennes on Sunday, September 11. The popular Commander Crowe won the first 23 races of his career and counts 42 wins in 63 starts, bringing his lifetime earnings to $2.2 million.
2011 will be just the second time all 12 Breeders Crown events will be raced on a single card, and the first time all 12 will be hosted in Canada. The top-ranked horse in North America currently happens to be the Canadian-owned trotter San Pail, who will defend his home turf in his first attempt at a Breeders Crown title.
An invitation was also issued to and accepted by French trotter Rapide Lebel, and eligibles to the race include the last three winners of this event: Enough Talk (2010), Lucky Jim (2009), Corleone Kosmos (2008), as well as 2007 sophomore trot winner Arch Madness. The last invited foreigner to win this event occurred ten years ago when Italian sensation Varenne stormed the Meadowlands oval in a world-record 1:51.1.
“We really look forward to match our horse against the best horses in North America and Rapide Lebel,” said Wihlborg.
The complete list of horses eligible to all 12 Breeders Crown events as well as the racing conditions can be found at www.Hambletonian.org.