Harness: The sky is the limit for the Svanstedt Stable
Driver/trainer Ake Svanstedt and his wife Sarah were in an upbeat mood prior to Saturday’s (July 14) Meadowlands Pace card. Amateur driver Sarah playfully teased Ake about the need to drive his four entrants on the night like they were meant to win, but willingly acknowledged Ake is the more accomplished driver.
Little did the couple know (or perhaps they suspected) that some five hours later they would have the fastest 3-year-old colt and filly trotters in the history of the sport. Perhaps more importantly, with Six Pack and Plunge Blue Chip, they’ll likely have a huge chance to capture the Hambletonian and the Hambletonian Oaks.
Although via disqualification, Svanstedt actually won the 2017 Hambletonian with Perfect Spirit and could become just the seventh trainer and fifth driver to accomplish the feat in back-to-back years. Most recently trainer Jimmy Takter pulled off the double with Trixton in 2014 and Pinkman in 2015. On the driving side, John Campbell is the only person to win consecutive Hambletonians in the last 40 years, scoring with Mack Lobell in 1987 and Armbro Goal in 1988.
While winning in 2017 was sweet, for Ake Svanstedt there is an extra incentive if he guides Six Pack home first in the 92nd Hambletonian. “We own this one,” said Svanstedt, who co-owns with Jeff Gural’s Little E LLC, Stall Kalmar and Lars Berg.
A nine-time winner in 14 career starts entering the Stanley Dancer at The Meadowlands on July 14, Six Pack had already proven himself as the top dog in New York and opened even more eyes with a huge mile to be second in the $500,000 Earl Beal Memorial at The Downs at Pocono. Those efforts would prove to be the perfect base for what was to come.
While racing in the two-path on both turns of the mile track, Six Pack kept finding more and opened up to a 2-1/4 length victory in the $181,000 prep for the $1,000,000 Hambletonian. Topping the difficult journey for the son of Muscle Mass was the final clocking of 1:50, eclipsing the world record for 3-year-olds held by all-time greats and Hambletonian winners Muscle Hill and Donato Hanover.
Svanstedt was hardly done with his attack on the record books that warm Saturday night in New Jersey. A half-dozen races later in the $128,500 Del Miller, a key stepping stone to the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks, filly Plunge Blue Chip did her stablemate one better.
Another offspring of Muscle Mass, this one from the ownership group of Ake Svanstedt, Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc, Tomas Andersson and Rick Zeron Stables, Plunge Blue Chip came first-over against the nearly unbeatable Manchego and got the measure of her at the wire by a short nose in 1:49 4/5. Not only did she eclipse Six Pack’s record, she also tied the all-age track record set by JL Cruze in 2015 and became only the fifth trotter in history to break the 1:50 barrier.
Could Svanstedt possibly had known before the races that he was sitting on two monster miles?
“Not so much, but I had four good horses (Ice Attraction was 2nd and Yes Mickey 5th) and I believed I had a chance to win at least two races,” said Svanstedt, who wasn’t overly concerned with what the fast miles might take out of his horses. “They don’t need to do better. If they can stay as they are now, I’ll be happy.”
Of more importance to Svanstedt seemed to be what the two victories mean in terms of prestige and on track presence. “It brings respect,” said Svanstedt, eluding to the fact that other drivers may elect to avoid too many head-to-head competitions with his top pair of horses.
With the two fastest sophomores in history now in his care, Svanstedt has his sights set on the first Saturday in August. He hopes to build on a year that he calls his best money-earning to date since arriving in the United States in 2014.
Statistically, Svanstedt has shown increases in earnings and wins every year as both a trainer and driver. In the bike he has gone from 54 wins and $2.1 million in 2014 to 74 wins and $3.4 million in 2017. As a trainer the ascent is similar, from 68 wins and $2.3 million to 124 wins and $4.6 million. It has been a slow and steady transition since coming over from Sweden, but Svanstedt seems to have figured out the keys to success in North America.
“It is a lot different from in Europe but I learn more and more every year,” said Svanstedt.
It seems his lessons are complete and with a bit of luck on Hambletonian Day, another career year could be on the horizon.