Breeders Crown: Ecurie D pulls away in Open Trot final

Saturday afternoon's (Oct. 30) $650,000 Breeders Crown Open Trot at the Meadowlands may have had start-to-finish action, but the one-mile race became a walk in the park in the end for European star Ecurie D, who cruised to a 1:52 victory.

Trained and driven by Ake Svanstedt, Ecurie D - who was sent off the 1-2 favorite in the 11-horse field - overcame an eventful journey to get the victory.

Leaving from post three, Ecurie D settled in second early behind the Yannick Gingras-driven It's Academic, but the positions were quickly reversed as Svanstedt moved his charge to the outside and to the lead. After an opening quarter of 27 3/5, Bob McClure sent Forbidden Trade charging hard toward the front, with Svanstedt releasing his rival and settling back into second by the 55 1/5 half.

Around the final turn and approaching the 1:24 2/5 three-quarters, Andy McCarthy had Ready For Moni on the move, having to go three-wide as Svanstedt angled Ecurie D off the pylons. Finding clearance turning for home, Svanstedt unleashed Ecurie D - who raced without front shoes - and the trotter stormed home with a 27 2/5 final quarter to win easily.

Back Of The Neck and driver Scott Zeron, sent off at 62-1, mounted a late rally from 10th at the three-quarters to take second and cut Ecurie D's final winning margin down to 2 1/4 lengths. Ready For Moni held on for third at 38-1.

Bred by famed French horseman Jean-Pierre DuBois, Ecurie D is a son of the recently deceased Italian sire Infinitif. Registered in Denmark, Ecurie D was developed in Norway and is owned by Swedes Marko Kreivi Stables, Suleyman Yuksel Stables, and trainer Svanstedt.

Ecurie D had 14 wins in 17 starts across the Atlantic Ocean before arriving in the U.S. earlier this summer. He won his American debut on Oct. 10 in 1:50 4/5 in the $136,000 Allerage Farms at The Red Mile, and with his Breeders Crown triumph, he has now taken home $393,000 in his two North American starts to add to his prior earnings of $210,208.

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In addition to racing without shoes in front, Ecurie D also races with cotton in his ears, as opposed to the usual ear plugs.

"I shouldn't say he's a hot horse, but mentally he races fresh, so Ake prefers to try and keep him calm (by using the cotton)," explained Svanstedt's wife, Sarah. "(Ake) found his way out (in the last turn) and he finished good."

While Ake Svanstedt came into Saturday's Breeders Crown finals without a trophy in 31 starts, he left with two, having won earlier on the card with Felicityshagwell S in the $300,000 Mare Trot.

Ecurie D became the fifth European-based trotter to capture the Breeders Crown Open Trot, joining Bold Eagle (France, 2019), Commander Crowe (Sweden, 2014), Equinox Bi (Italy, 2007) and Varenne (Italy, 2001).

--press release (Breeders Crown)--