Meadowlands: Southwind Tyrion dominant in Crawford Farms Open Trot

Southwind Tyrion, last year's Breeders Crown and FanDuel Open Trot champion, didn't hit the board in his first two outings of 2024, but the shoes came off and his speed was on full display in Saturday night's $131,250 Crawford Farms Open Trot for stallions and geldings at the Meadowlands as he blitzed to a stakes record 1:49 2/5 mile and went past the $1 million mark in career earnings.

Trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt sighted Southwind Tyrion right to the point from post three and left a two-wide Periculum (Mattias Melander) parked to the 26 4/5 opening quarter. Rather than continue to force the issue, Melander backed off to the middle of the pack but was unable to find a hole.

The pace remained hot to the half in 54 2/5 and the three-quarters in 1:22 3/5 as Periculum begegan to advance some on the rim again, with Venerate (Scott Zeron) on the dull cover second-over and Dan Patch Award winner It's Academic (David Miller), who was making his first start of the year, third-over. Asteroid (Tim Tetrick), another Svanstedt entry, was in the pocket but couldn't keep up with his stablemate on the final bend.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

While the tempo appeared taxing, Southwind Tyrion didn't show any ill effects through the stretch drive as he had plenty left and sprinted home in 26 4/5 to win by 4 3/4 lengths. Venerate closed well but was left with too much ground to make up and had to settle for second and Indiana invader Helpfirstedition (Dexter Dunn) turned an inside trip into a third-place result. It's Academic was fourth after being left in the same predicament as Venerate and Periculum held fifth despite the rough journey.

"It was like the same with him last year. It took him a couple of starts to kind of get back to himself. Obviously tonight he was back, so I'm very happy," said Sarah Svanstedt. "He likes the front for sure, but it's not at the cost of everything. It was fast fractions out there - 54 to the half and coming home in 49 - it's not that easy to do. He did it and I'm very happy.

"He's super-sweet. He can be a little bit of a crazy boy at home, bite and stuff like that, but nothing mean about it. He has some nice attitudes about himself."

A 6-year-old Muscle Hill stallion bred by Southwind Farms, Southwind Tyrion is owned by S R F Stable, Ake Svanstedt Inc., Knutsson Trotting Inc and Brittany Farms & Riverview. This was his 14th win from 28 lifetime starts, he has now earned $1,060,407 and he paid $16.00 to win as the 7-1 fourth choice.