baltic speed
Trotter Baltic Speed was bred by Carl Dugan and Virginia Young of Delaware. In a $15,000 package deal, Erik Cederqvist of Sweden purchased the mare Sugar Frosting while still in foal by Immortal Speedy Somolli, and Baltic Speed entered the world on May 10, 1981 in Bedminster, New Jersey. Trained by Sren Nordin and driven by Nordin's son Jan, Baltic Speed raced in 1983 and 1984. With a career record of 46-25-9-5, Baltic Speed retired as the number one single-season and third-leading lifetime moneywinning trotter of all time.
As a two-year-old in 1983, Baltic Speed compiled a record of 19-12-3-1, including victories in four consecutive New Jersey Sire Stakes events (including a final), the George Wilkes Trot, a division of the New Jersey Futurity, Champlain Stakes and an International Stallion Stakes elimination. He earned $209,153 and was elected Two-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year.
In 1984, three-year-old Baltic Speed, now owned by Baltic Farm, Inc., became only the second trotter in history to earn over $1 million in a single season (Joie De Vie being the first in 1983). He finishing the campaign with a record of 27-13-6-4. Major victories that year included the Battle of Saratoga, a division of the American-National Stakes (establishing a track record 1:58.4f at Sportsman's Park), New Jersey Futurity, Founders Gold Cup Trot, Yonkers Trot, World Trotting Derby, and the inaugural Breeders Crown at Pompano Park in world record-equaling and track record time of 1:57.2f. He earned $1,062,611 that season and was elected Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year.
In 1985, Baltic Speed was syndicated and retired for stud duty at Castleton Farm of New Jersey where he sired Hall of Famer Peace Corps 3,1:52.4 ($4,137,737) and Immortal Valley Victory 3,1:55.3 ($485,307). As a North American sire, Baltic Speed produced 660 starters and the winners of $26,585,801, including 61 $100,000 winners and one millionaire.
Baltic Speed was exported to Italy in 1995 and spent the rest of his career at Scuderia Orsi Mangelli. He died in early 2009 at the age of 28.