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\u2019s signature event<\/p>\n
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\u2019s signature event.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m impressed with him,\u201d said Svanstedt, a Hall of Famer in his native Sweden who has been based in the U.S. since 2014. \u201cHe\u2019s tough and fast. It\u2019s a great win, for it to be historical, in the 100th Hambletonian. He\u2019s raced better and better each race, and his form was absolutely on top today. Everything was perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n
Svanstedt co-owns Nordic Catcher S with Jeff Gural\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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