by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

The Swedish trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt is nicknamed ‘King Ake’ and he certainly ruled on Sunday (July 22) at the Axevalla track as he won seven out of nine races, including the Stochampionat (Swedish Mare Championship) where he took career victory number 6,000.

Kanal 75 photo

Ake Svanstedt took career victory number 6,000 with Drillbit AS in the Stochampionat.

The Stochampionat is raced over the 1-5/8th mile distance and with a purse for the winner of $145,000. Eliminations were raced last week, where Drillbit AS was one of the elimination winners, driven by Ulf Ohlsson.

However, Ohlson opted for another elimination winner, Askens Valencia, and in fact Ake Svanstedt was only third choice to drive Drillbit AS.

Drillbit AS was born and raised at the ACL Farm in Kentucky and is sired by Chocolatier and out of the Italian mare Perla d’Hilly. She’s trained by Svante Bath, who just like Ake Svanstedt won the Stochampionat for the first time.

Drillbit AS has now raced 13 times and has eight wins and earnings of $204,000.

On the same card, Crys Dream, driven by Ulf Ohlson, finished third in an open mare trot, timed in 1:56.2f. The winner, Braas Palema, had Ake Svanstedt in the bike and won in 1:56f.