Pocono: Hambletonian winner Nordic Catcher to qualify Wednesday

Not too many racetracks hosting their first session of 2-year-old races in a year, as is the case at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania Wednesday morning, would send out an advance release leading with something other than the babies as they start their careers.

Then again, not too many racetracks have the Hambletonian winner making his first appearance behind the gate since his victory in the million-dollar classic.

Nordic Catcher S, the son of Six Pack – That Woman Hanover who won North America’s biggest race in 1:50 last August 2, will be in a race for the first time in 303 days on Wednesday morning at Pocono, with the horse entered in the last of three qualifiers following nine baby races during the 10 a.m. session.

Nordic Catcher S went 5-3-1-1 in his abbreviated 2025 campaign, earning $573,322 and boosting his lifetime stats to 10-5-4-1-$813,285 for owners Åke Svanstedt Inc. and Little E LLC. The star trotter certainly earned his Hambletonian triumph, tucking third leaving then grinding away en route to a length victory in 1:50, after winning his elimination in 1:50 3/5. Nordic Catcher S did not race after that August day, and the harness world will be waiting to see how he fares in his return, with co-owner/trainer Svanstedt in the sulky as the horse starts from the outside post five.

Svanstedt will not have a lot of time for rumination about his champion's return most of the morning, as he has 12 2-year-olds who will go out for their first racing experience. The dozen Svanstedtites is matched by the dozen babies coming from the shedrow of Todd Schadel, the “king” of the Pennsylvania fair circuit in recent years who is facing the beginning of his “prime time” at the end of the month.

Replays of Pocono qualifiers can be watched at www.phha.com.

-edited release (Pocono/PHHA)