Svanstedt trainee takes $350,000 FanDuel Open Trot off the shelf

Despite not racing in a month since his victory in the Breeders Crown, Southwind Tyrion (Muscle Hill) and trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt were able to lead from the start in scoring an easy triumph in the $350,000 FanDuel Open Trot Saturday (Nov. 25) at The Meadowlands.

The 10^th race saw Svanstedt and Southwind Tyrion go out to the early lead from post five with It’s Academic (David Miller) sitting in second place.

Southwind Tyrion led the field to the quarter in :27, then the half mile in :55.3. As they raced down the backstretch, co-race favorite and Hambletonian winner Tactical Landing (Scott Zeron) started up first-over and flushed the pocket-sitting It’s Academic to come first-over and give them cover past the three-quarters in 1:23.4.

But the field started down the stretch, Southwind Tyrion proved to be the strongest of all despite cutting the mile as he pulled away to win with ease by three lengths in 1:51. Tactical Approach was second with It’s Academic third.

SOUTHWIND TYRION REPLAY

It was the second straight win and fifth victory of the year for Southwind Tyrion. The five-year-old stallion is trained by Svanstedt, who he co-owns with SRF Stable, Knutsson Trotting and Brittany Farms & Riverview Stable. He paid $7.60 to win.

“He was good last month in the Breeders Crown,” said Ake Svanstedt. “Over the past three months he has gotten better. I was surprised he could beat these horses tonight. I expected that the race would go fast in 1:51. He was come back to race again next year.”

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

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink