Yonkers: Svanstedt trainees triumphant in New York Sire Stakes

Ake Svanstedt drove a pair of Chapter Seven colts from his barn - Cecil Hanover and Kierkegaard K - to victories in the two New York Sire Stakes divisions for sophomore trotters on Thursday night (August 10) at MGM Yonkers Raceway.

Cecil Hanover made it look easy in the first $82,500 grouping as he went to the lead from post four, opened up a gap on his foes through fractions of 28 4/5, 58 1/5 and 1:26 3/5, and cruised to a 4 1/2 length victory in 1:55 flat. Onion Gum (Jordan Stratton) held second from the pocket over a closing Wild Bill Kelso (Scott Zeron).

Svanstedt also co-owns Cecil Hanover, who was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, with partners S R F Stable, Midnight Sun Partners Inc., and Jorgen Sparredal Inc. This was his fourth career win, and he has now earned $270,955. He paid $2.80 to win as the 2-5 favorite and led a $6.30 exacta and an $11.00 trifecta.

In the second $84,000 split Chapercraz (Joe Bongiorno) went to the top from the pole position and was in front at the 28 1/5 quarter, 57 3/5 half and 1:26 three-quarters. Meanwhile, Kierkegaard K and Svanstedt settled in the fourth spot from post six and began a first-over bid on the third turn that carried him into second on the final bend.

Kierkegaard K, who won an MGM Yonkers Trot elimination earlier this year, would sustain his two-wide charge through the stretch, wear down and go by Chapercraz, and then hold off Crown (Brian Sears), who found room on the inside from the pocket, to score by a neck in 1:54 4/5. Chapercraz faded to third.

A Knutsson Trotting Inc.-homebred, Kierkegaard K has compiled a record of 5-2-4 from 16 tries, has now pocketed $311,249, and returned $8.00 to win as the 3-1 second choice. The exacta was worth $48.20 and the trifecta kicked back $69,50.

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There were also two $20,000 New York Excelsior "A" Series races held as non-betting events prior to the pari-mutuel card. Winning those contests were Kingpin Hanover (by E L Titan and bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, in 1:57 2/5 for driver Jim Pantaleano, trainer Jody Riedel and owner Super Mile LLC. and Seven Over (by Chapter Seven and bred by Crawford Farms) in 1:55 2/5 for driver Jason Bartlett, trainer Per Engblom and owners VIP Internet Stable LLc., Rich Preziotti, Heritage Standardbreds and Timothy Drag.

The New York Sire Stakes circuit returns to MGM Yonkers Raceway next Tuesday (August 15) with two dashes for 3-year-old filly trotters.

MGM Yonkers Raceway currently hosts live racing on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights with post time at 7 p.m. (EDT).

--press release (Yonkers)--