Perfect trip gets winner home in $100,000 Invitational

Southwind Tyrion (Muscle Hill) rode a perfect trip to an easy win in the $100,000 Sebastian K Invitational for aged trotters in harness racing action at Pocono Downs on Saturday afternoon (August 19th).

There was no action as Hellexotic led through fractions of :26.4 and :55.4. Keg Stand (Tim Tetrick) provided a mild challenge in the third quarter but was easily rebuffed by Hillexotic who trotted to the three-quarter pole in 1:23.2. At that point, the race turned into a two-horse sprint for home.

Once he was shown racetrack in the stretch, Southwind Tyrion and trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt easily trotted past the leader to win by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:50.4. Hillexotic stayed for second ahead of On Higher Ground (Joe Bongiorno) who rode the pylons throughout, and Lovedbythemasses (Todd McCarthy) closed for fourth.

Sarah Svandstedt explained that Southwind Tyrion was injured and missed most of his three-year-old year after setting a world record at two. “We gave him the time he needed, he healed, and now he’s back,” she said, noting he was always fast and always showed high potential.

SOUTHWIND TYRION REPLAY

In winning for the third time in his sixth 2023 start, Southwind Tyrion boosted his career earnings to just over $451,000 for Svandstedt and partners SRF Stable and Knutsson Trotting of Florida, and Brittany Farms of Kentucky. He paid $3 to win as the favorite.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink