Tioga: Svanstedt cleans up in Reynolds

Trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt brought out his broom in the Reynolds Stakes for 2-year-olds on Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs, winning the lone colt trot division with New Jersey Viking and the two filly trot splits with Ice Attraction and Evelyn.

In the $55,780 colt trot flight, New Jersey Viking cleared to the top at the 28 4/5 opening quarter, then went on to hit the half in 57 3/5 and the three-quarters in 1:26 on his way to a 1:55 1/5 tally. He defeated Southwind Woody (Yannick Gingras) by two lengths, with Bill's Man (Corey Callahan) back in the third position.

"He looked like he got sick at the Meadowlands," said winning co-owner Jeff Gural. "We thought he was really going to be a top horse, so it's good to see him bounce back."

Knutsson Trotting Inc. shares ownership of New Jersey Viking, a Muscle Hill colt, with Gural's Little E LLC. This was his second win from five attempts, and he has now earned $69,268. New Jersey Viking, who was taken out of the Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for $77,000, is out of the Broadway Hall mare Hall Of Wishes. She earned over $207,000 in her career. New Jersey Viking, racing as part of a six-horse entry that was sent off at 2-5, returned $2.90 to win.

Two races later, Ice Attraction gave Svanstedt another trip to the winner's circle in the $29,190 opener for rookie filly trotters. She yielded to Overdraft Volo (Andy Miller) past the 29 3/5 first quarter, then sat in the pocket through a half in 58 2/5 and a three-quarters in 1:27 1/5. Svanstedt brought Ice Attraction to the outside in the lane, and she trotted right past Overdraft Volo en route to a 2 3/4 length triumph in 1:56. Caviart Wonder (Matt Kakaley) checked in third.

Ice Attraction, a daughter of Muscle Hill, is co-owned by Svanstedt, Douglas Sipple, Mal & Janet Burroughs LLC., and Little E LLC. She now has a pair of victories from six trips behind the gate, and she has put away $35,300. A $65,000 Standardbred Horse Sale buy, Ice Attraction is the third out out of The Ice Queen (Conway Hall), a half-sister to Southwind Serena (Varenne, $385,088) and Southwind Spirit (Muscle Hill, $377,495). Ice Attraction, the 1-2 favorite, Ice Attraction paid $3.10 to win.

The other $29,190 Reynolds test for filly trotters saw Evelyn and Svanstedt lead early, but they were overhauled by Royal Melbourne (Marcus Miller) before the 28 2/5 opening quarter. Royal Melbourne then gave way to favorite Treviso (Charlie Norris) before the 57 1/5 half, and while Treviso was still on top at the 1:26 1/5 three-quarters, she was under heavy pressure from a first-over Southwind Avanti (Marcus Johansson).

In the stretch Treviso and Southwind Avanti continued to race side-by-side, while Evelyn came to the far outside after briefly tracking Southwind Avanti off the final bend. Evelyn surged late, getting up to beat Southwind Avanti by half a length in 1:55 2/5, which equaled the track record for a 2-year-old trotting filly at Tioga Downs. Treviso wound up third.

Another filly by Muscle Hill, Evelyn is owned by Svanstedt, Little E LLC., Borje Nasstrom, and Jt45. She broke her maiden in her sixth effort, and boosted her bankroll to $47,310. Taken out of the Standardbred Horse Sale for $42,000, Evelyn is out of the Dream Vacation mare Viva Las Lindy ($167,222). The 8-5 second choice, Evelyn returned $5.20.