V75® (jackpot): Stefan Persson in the spotlight
Edibear was loaded, climbing over horses in his last start.
Cassius Clay D.E. comes with two straight wins.
The conditions are right for an exciting Saturday afternoon at Axevalla for Stefan Persson.
After the payout for five winners picked on V75 last Saturday was canceled, this week's host Axevalla is getting ready for a jackpot card. A sole winner with all seven winners picked can take home around SEK 44 million.
As many times before, driver Stefan Persson, who finished sixth in earnings in the country on Swedish racetracks last year, is one of the main characters. But, not only as a catch driver this time, as he and his wife Linda train a few horses and two of them look like they could win on V75.
9 Edibear (V75-1) is a horse close to the couple's hearts.
The now 6-year-old gelding finished third in the 2022 Swedish Trotting Derby behind Francesco Zet and Lulius Boko but got most of last year ruined. With two starts in his legs, the connections are a bit more positive; when Edibear in his last start raced in the gold division in Kalmar, he looked loaded in the pocket.
"I was so happy because the horse had a lot of problems last summer and has been sick. When he raced at Vaggeryd last summer, I had to pull him up after one lap. He was so incredibly tired and I was afraid that it would take a toll on him, both physically and also mentally. But I was very happy when he finished fifth at Kalmar in his most recent start," says Stefan in the podcast 'V75 - lördag hela veckan'.
He adds:
"I'm sure there were other horses who also finished the race strong, but he felt great. Linda says he was awesome, the last time she trained him. He has trained as usual after his last start and we wanted to give him two good experiences. But this time, if everything is good, we can expect a little more of him".
Any equipment changes planned for him?
"The only thing we have left to try is an American sulky and we might do that on Saturday. I would say there's an 80 percent chance that we will. But he does start from the second tier in a 1,640-meter race, and I don't think the short distance is an advantage for him. If I could have picked, there are other posts I would have picked before the nine hole," says Stefan.
Benefits from the conditions this time
A horse with an impressive record so far in his career is 1 Cassius Clay D.E. (V75-5).
The German-born 6-year-old started his racing career in his native country by winning his first eight starts. He is now back to his winning ways and he currently has two wins in a row. The gelding was very impressive when he won a V75 race at Axevalla on New Year's Eve, despite a first over trip. In Class 1, he starts from post position one behind the gate, which might not be the post position the driver had wished for.
"This would not be the post position I would have picked first, but at the same time, you'd rather take post one than seven, eight, eleven, or twelve. I would have picked somewhere in the middle, but you can't get everything you wish for. Post one is good almost every time and Axevalla is a good track to have that at. I don't think he can hold up the lead, that would surprise me a lot. He gets better at leaving, but normally, someone will be faster than him".
How would you grade his current form?
"On a scale from one to ten, I would say he has been at eight at both his last wins. He has gotten a good amount of time in between starts now and has trained well. So, it should be nine out of ten for this start".
How good is Cassius Clay D.E.?
"He is good, but he has a few things he needs to improve to become very good. His gait is not flawless and he needs to learn how to leave faster, and of course, those two things go hand in hand. But he's definitely on the right path; he has the strength and the lung capacity which are harder to improve. It could also be interesting when he can race barefoot this spring, but for this start, it's good that he has never raced barefoot, so the conditions benefit him on Saturday. I'm sure the track will be a bit demanding and that suits him well".
Three more chances
Being one of the country's most hired drivers, Stefan Persson has a few more drives on V75, and here are his comments on his other three drives, which all will be used frequently on the V75 tickets.
"I have driven these horses before, so I know a little bit about them," says Stefan and continues:
"5 Vikens Bonjour (V75-2) is a nice mare. I like her. She drew well and she fits the class well, too. It looks good on paper for her. She was no good last summer, but now she is back again".
"4 Sabani (V75-4) is a horse I drove a lot early in his career and I liked him, but it felt like he didn't release the handbrake and he had no go at the end. He raced well in his last start and things are starting to come together for him and then he has won a couple of races, no surprise to me".
"2 Judge D. (V75-6) drew well but just because he surprised everyone by holding up the lead in his last start, doesn't mean that that he will do so again. But he showed that he can leave better and regardless of whether I get the lead or not, he should get a good trip from this post position. He is a bit rough-gaited at times, but he wants to trot and he does everything right".