Karoliina Oinonen has been around the world with trotting star Commander Crowe, but there is one more place she hopes to visit before returning to Europe next week: the Breeders Crown winner’s circle.
Oinonen, from Finland, has been Commander Crowe’s caretaker since the chestnut gelding, known as ‘Le Grand Blond,’ arrived in the stable of trainer Fabrice Souloy in 2010.
Commander Crowe is the 3-1 morning line favourite in Saturday’s $500,000 Breeders Crown Open Trot at the Meadowlands Racetrack. Commander Crowe will start from Post 9, with driver Orjan Kihlstrom at the lines.
Now an 11-year-old, Commander Crowe has started in two previous Breeders Crown finals, both at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, finishing third each time. A win this year would make Commander Crowe the oldest Breeders Crown champion in history.
“That would be great. That would be really great,” Oinonen said about winning the Open Trot, which also includes past Breeders Crown champions Maven, Arch Madness, Intimidate and Market Share. “I know it’s the dream of my boss to win one big race here. It’s not easy with Post 9. But I hope. I really hope.”
According to the stats on the Meadowlands website, Post 9 wins at a rate of 8.4 per cent. It is not much off from Post 2, 3 and 8, which have better numbers, but also are less than 10 per cent.
The Swedish-born Commander Crowe has won 60 of 105 career races, earning $4.84 million. His earnings rank No. 5 among all trotters in history and his triumphs include the Elitlopp Invitational, which he captured in 2012.
Commander Crowe enters the Breeders Crown off a second-place finish to Natural Herbie in the International Trot Preview on October 25 at Yonkers Raceway, which was his first start on U.S. soil. He tuned up for the Breeders Crown with a 1:54.1 qualifier on November 15 at the Meadowlands.
Prior to arriving in the U.S., he finished second in the Grade 1 Gran Premio Turilli in Rome on October 5. In August, he raced three heats to win the Grade 1 Aby Stora Pris in Sweden.
“It was a great opportunity to get a horse like him,” said Oinonen, who has visited nearly a dozen countries with Commander Crowe. “It’s just unbelievable. I was lucky, he could have gone to somebody else in the barn. Without the horse, I would have never travelled like this. The horse has paid for my ticket everywhere.”
Commander Crowe, who didn’t begin racing until late in his three-year-old season and won the first 23 starts of his career, is owned by the Snogarps Gard ownership group of Barbro Wihlborg, Ulf Wihlborg and Joakim Wihlborg. He is a son of Juliano Star, out of the Mack Lobell mare Somack.
Oinonen said her most memorable races with Commander Crowe were his world-record-equalling 1:50.4 mile in 2012, winning the Elitlopp, and competing in the Breeders Crown for the first time in 2011. San Pail won the 2011 Breeders Crown on his way to Horse of the Year honours. Commander Crowe raced on the outside for the entire mile and was a length behind in third place.
“We were third,” Oinonen said, “but just the atmosphere and travelling that far with a horse and all that, it was so great.”
Commander Crowe enjoys his work, but likes to relax as well.
“My work is to keep him calm,” Oinonen said. “If he sees all the working horses, he wants to work, too. He gets too excited.
“But he likes to be in the paddock with the other horses. He has been with (10-year-old gelding) Arch Madness. He likes the company. He thinks he’s a wild horse living on the prairie, eating the grass there. Back home he is usually living outside all the summer season. He comes inside only to work; that’s what he likes.”
Commander Crowe is finished with his training and jogging as he awaits the Breeders Crown. Friday was to be spent enjoying his paddock time.
“We have done what we can,” Oinonen said, “and now we see if it’s enough.”
For Friday’s entries, click on one of the following links: program pages -- overnight sheet
For Saturday’s entries, click on one of the following links: program pages -- overnight sheet
(Hambletonian Society / Breeders Crown)