Latest news with #NordicCatcherS
Boston Globe
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Ake Svanstedt trains and drives Nordic Catcher S to a record-setting Hambletonian victory
Leaving from post six and at odds of 9-2, Nordic Catcher S was near the front leaving the gate, tucked in third heading into the first turn. He remained in third as the opening quarter was covered in 26.1 seconds by longshot Go Dog Go, who blasted to the front from post 10. Advertisement Approaching the half, favored Maryland started the outer flow, which forced Svanstedt's hand. He made a move, but Go Dog Go remained on the lead at the half in 54.2 seconds. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Heading into the final turn, Nordic Catcher S methodically advanced to put pressure on the leader. When they hit the stretch, Nordic Catcher S kicked into high gear and took command at the eighth pole. Pocket-sitter Super Chapter, the 3-1 second choice, found daylight, but Nordic Catcher S was too strong and Super Chapter's late bid came up short. Nordic Catcher S finished a length in front of Super Chapter. It was another 2 ¾ lengths back to Maryland, who could not capitalize on a perfect trip. The winner paid $11.20. Ake Svanstedt (white helmet) is both the trainer and driver of Nordic Catcher S. Dan Heary Nordic Catcher S has now won five of 10 career starts, and has three wins in five starts this year. The $500,000 winner's share boosts the colt's earnings to more than $813,000. Advertisement It was Svanstedt's third Hambletonian win. The 2023 Dan Patch Trainer of the Year won his first one in 2017 driving Captain Corey. He took his second Hambo victory in 2021 driving Perfect Spirit. In both cases he was also the trainer. Svanstedt co-owns the horse with Jeff Gural, president, and CEO of The Meadowlands. The 83-year-old Gural, who also owns the track, was thrilled to win the biggest race in the sport for the first time. 'Truthfully, I've been waiting to give this trophy to myself, and there's nobody I'd rather be partners with than Ake and Sarah (Svanstedt, Ake's wife),' Gural said, 'They've done an amazing job. Last year we won the Oaks, and last week I was down and really depressed. This week every horse I've owned with them has raced great. So, it's a crazy business to be honest, but I give Ake and Sarah all the credit. [And] the track man for watering the track the way Sarah likes it.' Gural spoke glowingly of the relationship he has with Ake Svanstedt. 'He's cautious, and he's looking for these big races,' Gural said, 'It's a real thrill truthfully.' In the Grade 1 $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks for 3-year-old trotting fillies, Conversano and driver James McDonald scored the victory in 1:51.2. Conversano set out for the early lead, then took cover behind longshot Walspea. She sat in the pocket until the stretch, where she rallied for McDonald's first Oaks win. Emily Cain is a rising junior at Ohio University studying Journalism Strategic Communication and Sport Management. She wrote this story for the Boston Globe as part of the Clyde Hirt Journalism Workshop. Advertisement
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Tough And Fast': Nordic Catcher S Wins 100th Hambletonian
'Tough And Fast': Nordic Catcher S Wins 100th Hambletonian originally appeared on Paulick Report. Co-owner and trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt won his third $1-million Hambletonian Stakes on Saturday, capturing the 100th edition of America's trotting classic for 3-year-olds with Nordic Catcher S in a stakes record 1:50 at The Meadowlands. Super Chapter finished second, one length behind the winner, followed by 3-2 favorite Maryland in third. The previous stakes record of 1:50.1 was set by colt Muscle Hill in 2009 and equaled by filly Ramona Hill in 2020. Svanstedt won the Hambletonian previously with Perfect Spirit in 2017 and Captain Corey in 2021. He trained and drove both those horses as well. He became the sixth trainer in history to also drive at least three winners. 'It's a great win, for it to be historical, in the 100th Hambletonian,' Svanstedt said. '(Nordic Catcher S) has raced better and better each race, and his form was absolutely on top today. Everything was perfect.' Go Dog Go, leaving from post 10 with driver Todd McCarthy, went to the front and reached the opening quarter in :26.1, with Super Chapter and Yannick Gingras in second and Nordic Catcher S third. Nordic Catcher S still was third in the 10-horse field at the race's :54.2 midpoint, but Svanstedt was already on the move with the colt in a bid to overtake Go Dog Go. Nordic Catcher S was a first-over second as Go Dog Go hit three-quarters in 1:22.4 but had a nose in front at the top of the stretch. Super Chapter found room to angle to the outside from the pocket nearing mid-stretch but was unable to catch Nordic Catcher S, who was racing without shoes for the first time, as they both came home in :27. It was the third win in five starts this season for Nordic Catcher S, who won his Hambletonian elimination last week in 1:50.3. 'I'm impressed with him,' said Svanstedt, a Hall of Famer in his native Sweden who has been based in the U.S. since 2014. 'He's tough and fast. He's big also, so I think he could be special when he gets older and stronger.' Nordic Catcher S is owned by Ake Svanstedt Inc. and Little E LLC, which is Meadowlands Chairman and CEO Jeff Gural. It was Gural's first win in the Hambletonian. Last year, he won the Hambletonian Oaks, the $500,000 filly companion race to the Hambletonian, with Svanstedt trained and driven Warrawee Michelle. 'Truthfully, I've been waiting to give this trophy to myself,' Gural said with a laugh during the winner's circle celebration. 'There is nobody I'd rather be partners with than Ake and (his wife) Sarah. They've done an amazing job. I give Ake and Sarah all the credit.' Nordic Catcher S, bred by Nordic Horse Farm AB and Joie De Vie Farm, is a son of trotting stallion Six Pack out of the pacing mare That Woman Hanover. 'It was a freak,' Gural said. 'We all looked at a Six Pack bred to a pacing mare, and it being such a good horse. It's a real thrill.' For his career, Nordic Catcher S has won five of 10 races and earned $813,285. Runner-up Super Chapter and third-place Maryland are both trained by Marcus Melander, who had four horses in the final. It was the third time in seven years that he finished second and third in a Hambletonian. Sent off as the 9-2 third choice, Nordic Catcher S paid $11.20 to win. To watch a replay of the 100th Hambletonian, click here This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Aug 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
03-08-2025
- Sport
Nordic Catcher S wins 100th Hambletonian in record time
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Nordic Catcher S won the 100th Hambletonian in a stakes-record 1:50 on Saturday at the Meadowlands Racetrack, giving driver and trainer Ake Svanstedt his third victory in harness racing's signature event. The trotter beat previously undefeated Super Chapter by a length, with Maryland, the 3-2 favorite, third in the $1 million race. Nordic Catcher S broke the stakes record of 1:50.1 set by colt Muscle Hill in 2009 and matched by filly Ramona Hill in 2020. 'I'm impressed with him,' said Svanstedt, a Hall of Famer in his native Sweden who has been based in the U.S. since 2014. 'He's tough and fast. It's a great win, for it to be historical, in the 100th Hambletonian. He's raced better and better each race, and his form was absolutely on top today. Everything was perfect.' Svanstedt co-owns Nordic Catcher S with Jeff Gural's Little E LLC. Svanstedt also won the Hambletonian previously with Perfect Spirit in 2017 and Captain Corey in 2021. He trained and drove both those horses as well. Go Dog Go was the early leader from post 10 and battled with Nordic Catcher through three-quarters in 1:22.4. Nordic Catcher took the lead and began to pull away in the final eighth of a mile, then held off Super Chapter with a final acceleration. Nordic Catcher S is a five-time winner with $813,285 in winnings. Nordic Catcher S paid $11.20 to win as the 9-2 third choice.
Toronto Star
02-08-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Nordic Catcher S wins 100th Hambletonian in record time
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Nordic Catcher S won the 100th Hambletonian in a stakes-record 1:50 on Saturday at the Meadowlands Racetrack, giving driver and trainer Ake Svanstedt his third victory in harness racing's signature event. The trotter beat previously undefeated Super Chapter by a length, with Maryland, the 3-2 favorite, third in the $1 million race. Nordic Catcher S broke the stakes record of 1:50.1 set by colt Muscle Hill in 2009 and matched by filly Ramona Hill in 2020.
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nordic Catcher S wins 100th Hambletonian in record time
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Nordic Catcher S won the 100th Hambletonian in a stakes-record 1:50 on Saturday at the Meadowlands Racetrack, giving driver and trainer Ake Svanstedt his third victory in harness racing's signature event. The trotter beat previously undefeated Super Chapter by a length, with Maryland, the 3-2 favorite, third in the $1 million race. Nordic Catcher S broke the stakes record of 1:50.1 set by colt Muscle Hill in 2009 and matched by filly Ramona Hill in 2020. 'I'm impressed with him,' said Svanstedt, a Hall of Famer in his native Sweden who has been based in the U.S. since 2014. 'He's tough and fast. It's a great win, for it to be historical, in the 100th Hambletonian. He's raced better and better each race, and his form was absolutely on top today. Everything was perfect.' Svanstedt co-owns Nordic Catcher S with Jeff Gural's Little E LLC. Svanstedt also won the Hambletonian previously with Perfect Spirit in 2017 and Captain Corey in 2021. He trained and drove both those horses as well. Go Dog Go was the early leader from post 10 and battled with Nordic Catcher through three-quarters in 1:22.4. Nordic Catcher took the lead and began to pull away in the final eighth of a mile, then held off Super Chapter with a final acceleration. Nordic Catcher S is a five-time winner with $813,285 in winnings. Nordic Catcher S paid $11.20 to win as the 9-2 third choice. ___
