Pocono: Nordic Catcher S sharp in return from injury

Nordic Catcher S did not look like a horse who was coming off a 345-day layoff, as the 2025 Hambletonian winner, who had not raced since that million dollar day, was ready for the $27,500 featured fast-class handicap trot at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Tuesday afternoon, winning in 1:51. The time was only two-fifths of a second off the 13-year-old divisional track and world record of Uncle Peter.

The key to the race was the first turn, when driver-trainer Åke Svanstedt could get enough gate jet out of the son of Six Pack and could clear to the lead early, looping favored Dame Good Time, who had set a world record 1:50 2/5 here two starts ago. Dame Good Time had little choice but to press on towards the top, going on past the fast 26 1/5 quarter to get command in front of the stands.

Dame Good Time was able to get a breather to a 55 4/5 half before accelerating with the wind to a 1:22 4/5 three quarters. Nordic Catcher S was able to draft along in the pocket for a half-mile, and when Svanstedt moved him out headstretch, he lived up to his name and caught Dame Good Time, who fought hard, by a length. The 6-5 second choice, now 11-6-4-1-$827,035 lifetime, is owned by Åke Svanstedt Inc. and Little E LLC., and now that he fits back into a picture that includes On To Norway, Super Chapter, Antognoni S, Lexus Kody...this class should give us quite a summer and fall.

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The $21,000 sub-feature saw Gap Kronos S achieved an unusual feat: he has now trotted his career fastest mile of 1:51 4/5 at two, three, and now four. Driver-trainer Åke Svanstedt, taking the top two races of the day, took the lead from favored Southwind Coors past the quarter, kept on rolling throughout the mile, then under active encouragement held off that rival by a head. The son of Face Time Bourbon is owned by Bruni Racing Team Inc., Part Of Dream Inc., and Magnifico LLC.

In the $18,500 third-level fast-class trotting feature, the Archangel gelding Pierre In Paris enjoyed a drop in company and took a new mark of 1:52 2/5 in winning for the Pocono leaders, driver Tyler Buter and trainer Ron Burke. Pierre In Paris tucked third early, then made his move on the far turn and trotted past pace-setter Lefties Righties, with the favorite winning by a length for Zippett Racing Stable. Joseph Di Scala Jr., and Yannick Gingras.

George Napolitano Jr. guided home four winners; Tyler Buter had three, and Åke Svanstedt the two feature horses. Svanstedt, Lou Pena, and Jill Wine all had training doubles.

An eventful race week at Pocono comes to a close with a 1 p.m. (EDT) card Tuesday, which will feature four $30,000 divisions of the Pennsylvania All-Stars event for two-year-old trotting fillies.

--press release (PHHA/Pocono)--