by Moira Fanning, publicity director, the Hambletonian Society

Cranbury, NJ — 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 start on U.S. soil this fall.

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Commander Crowe will make his third start in the Breeders Crown.

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 and 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 year’s Breeders Crown for older trotters,” said Joakim Wihlborg via e-mail. ”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 2001 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 $5.6 million to be raced at The Meadowlands over the weekend of Friday (Nov. 21) and Saturday (Nov. 22).

For more information visit www.themeadowlands.com or www.hambletonian.org.