Pocono: Southwind Tyrion stars in Sebastian K Invitational

Southwind Tyrion won Saturday's $100,000 Sebastian K Invitational for older trotters by 1 1/2 lengths over Hillexotic in 1:50 4/5 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania. On Higher Ground finished third.

Hillexotic took the lead following a first turn battle with Southwind Tyrion on the way to a 26 4/5 opening quarter. He remained on top through a 55 4/5 half and reached three-quarters in 1:23 2/5 before Southwind Tyrion and trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt made their move and pulled away from the field down the stretch.

Southwind Tyrion is a 5-year-old son of Muscle Hill-Taylor Jean owned by S R F Stable, Ake Svanstedt Inc., Knutsson Trotting Inc., and Brittany Farms & Riverview. The Southwind Farms-bred stallion has won three of six races this season and 11 of 19 in his career, good for $441,123 in purses.

"He had a problem when he was (age) 2 and then didn't race at 3 because he had problems again, so we took it easy and waited until he was done with growing," Svanstedt said. "He had a lot of growth issues. But now he is good. He is starting to fulfill his potential."

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Svanstedt trained and drove Sebastian K, the world record-setting trotter honored by the invitational.

Southwind Tyrion, the 1-2 favorite, paid $3 to win.

--Derick Giwner also contributed to this story--