by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

The 11-year-old Swedish trotter Commander Crowe is still on top of his game. On Saturday afternoon (Aug. 16) he won the prestigious Aby Stora Pris at Aby racetrack in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Gerard Forni photo

Commander Crowe won the Aby Stora Pris at Aby racetrack in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The Aby Stora Pris is raced as a heat race and although Commander Crowe flopped in the first heat, won by outsider Quid Pro Qui (sired by Yankee Glide) with Erik Adielsson in the bike, Commander Crowe came back stronger than ever and was an easy winner of the second heat.

In the race-off Commander Crowe went off stride as the gate left the two trotters, but Ôrjan Kihlström in the bike managed to get him back to the trot and around the last corner Commander Crowe went around Quid Pro Qui and won by open lengths.

The chestnut gelding, Commander Crowe, is a very popular trotter, who after many big victories in his home country was sent to train in France with Fabrice Souloy. He found another gear in Commander Crowe.

Commander Crowe joined the stable of Souloy during the winter of 2010-2011 and since then he was won more than $3.1 million. In 2012 Commander Crowe had a banner year, winning more than $1.7 million.

After Saturday’s victory, worth $115,000, Commander Crowe now has lifetime winnings of $4.7 million.