At the Meadowlands racetrack in East Rutherford, N.J., Nordic Catcher S secured victory in the 100th Hambletonian on Saturday, marking a third win in this prestigious harness racing event for driver and trainer Ake Svanstedt. The trotter narrowly defeated the previously unbeaten Super Chapter by a length, setting a new stakes record of 1:50.1, surpassing the time set by Muscle Hill in 2009 and equaling Philly Ramona Hill’s 2020 performance.
Svanstedt, a Swedish Hall of Famer who has been based in the U.S. since 2014, expressed his admiration for the horse. He co-owns Nordic Catcher with Jeff Gural’s Little E LLC and has previously won the Hambletonian with Perfect Spirit in 2017 and Captain Corey in 2021, both of which he also trained and drove.
The race saw Go Dog Go initially take the lead from post 10, challenging Nordic Catcher through three-quarters of the mile at 1:22.4. However, Nordic Catcher overtook the lead in the last eighth of a mile and maintained momentum to hold off Super Chapter’s late surge.
Nordic Catcher S boasts five wins and has earned $813,285 in prizes. The horse paid $11.20 to win as the third favorite with odds of 9-2.
Fan Take: Nordic Catcher’s record-breaking win underscores the rising talent in the harness racing world and highlights Ake Svanstedt’s continued dominance as both a trainer and driver. This victory not only energizes fans but also signals a bright future for the sport as it blends tradition with new champions.
