Breeders' Crown Finals

The Breeders’ Crown finals for 3- and 4-year-old geldings/colts and fillies were contested at Eskilstuna raceway on Saturday, November 6. It is a national series that started in 1991, with several qualifications during the year, which lead to four finals with $105,000 to the winner, the equal amount independent of age and gender. The stallion-owners pay the first nomination fee for all offspring of their stallion, breeders pay the second fee and then owners pay the third and forth fee to keep the horse eligible for the qualifications.


Newcomer’s Race
The Breeders' Crown finals are usually the last major battle of the year for 3- and 4-year-old trotters. Due to the long season, those who have been racing since early spring are frequently fatigued, and quite often, a long-shot shows up first on the finish line in the Breeders' Crown finals.


Viola Silas Finished Third
Viola Silas has been outstanding in her crop, but even the queen of 4-year-old fillies tired after a race outside of the early leader Stepping Space. Viola Silas finished third after Pebbly who was trailing Stepping Space throughout the race.

Viola Silas sums up this season with a fantastic result. She banked $450,000 with eight wins, and two thirds out of ten entries. The victories in the Stochampionat and the Derby Filly Division were among her major triumphs. The winner of the race, Stepping Space, also had a great year, and has been a finalist in most of the previous mentioned races won by Viola Silas. She won six out of 14 entries and was on the tote board in nine. The mare is trained by Roger Walmann and was driven by his first lad Johan Untersteiner, who in 2007 set a world record mark with Giant Diablo on the Red Mile in Lexington (1:50.1).


One Too Many Finished First
Raja Mirchi was the next favorite to fail. He was positioned outside Kadett C.D. in the lead and the speed was high throughout the race. When they reached the homestretch, Örjan Kihlström with One Too Many showed up from behind and Kihlström managed to keep his horse focused until just after the finish line when he went off stride. Even One Too Many (by sire Viking Kronos and dam Bourbon Eyes) had a good season with seven wins out of ten entries. He was second after Raja Mirchi in the Kriterium and the victory in the Breeders' Crown was his first big triumph, which bumped his career earnings to $284,000. Stefan Hultman trains the 3-year-old colt.


Aisle Stand Stood Next
Tamla Celeber was best among the 3-year-old fillies during the season, but trainer Roger Walmann ended her season after the victory in Oaks. It was now wide open for another filly to enter the scene and Aisle Stand stood next. Aisle Stand (Scarlet Knight-Twisterella) finished one and a half length behind Tamla Celeber in the Oaks, but won the Breeders’ Crown final by a nose. Per Lennartsson forced Aisle Stand to the lead after 500 meters at 1.10,8 (1:54.0) and knew what he had in the reins. The Stefan Melander trained filly was challenged by Canaka B.F on the outside and both came home at 1:59.3 over 2140 meters (1 3/8th miles).


Prince Tagg - a Sensational Winner
The Breeders' Crown final for 4-year-old geldings and stallions took an unexpected turn when Prince Tagg and Ralf Karlstedt rounded the field and won by several lengths. The favorite Sebastian K got the lead with Alvena Pampas outside. Prince Tagg was placed further down the field and when Karlstedt pulled the plugs and the Norwegian can’t-see-back bridle on the homestretch, they left the rest of the field with several lengths. The winner’s share of $105,000 more than doubled his previous earnings.