The Guru’s Road to the Hambletonian

by Ron Gurfein

HORSE
PEDIGREE
SALE PRICE, EARNINGS, RECORD OWNER, BREEDER
TRAINER / DRIVER
COMMENT

1.GREENSHOE
Father Patrick — Designed To Be
$330,000 Lexington Selected $76,723 2,1:53.3
Courant Inc, Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld
Marcus Melander / Brian Sears

May be the fastest colt I have ever seen. Needs to keep it together. Saturday 5/11 looked the safest I have seen him winning a qualifier in 1:55 and looked like a hopples pacer finishing with a last eighth in what appeared to be 12 seconds.

2.WOODSIDE CHARM (f)
Chapter Seven — Fireworks Hanover
Private Sale $ 521,658 2,153f
Verlin D Yoder, AV and Son Bloodstock
Verlin Yoder / Verlin Yoder

Undefeated as a 2-year-old, has not started in 2019. Fabulous filly. Can she compete with what to me is the fastest group of Hambletonian-eligible colts ever?

3. GREEN MANALISHI S
Muscle Hill — Naga Morich
$270,000 Sweden , $510,557 2, 153.4
Courant Inc, AB Svensk Reklamfinas
Marcus Melander / Tim Tetrick

Won a qualifier 5/4 Meadowlands. Another speedball from “Baby Trainer” (my nickname for baby faced Marcus Melander). Have no idea where bottom is for this big fellow.

4. GIMPANZEE
Chapter Seven — Steamy Windows
$170,000 Harrisburg $591,358 2,154.3
Courant Inc and SRF Stable, Order By Stable
Marcus Melander/ Brian Sears

Undefeated at two. Won qualifier 5/4 Meadowlands.
Although unbeaten seems more vulnerable at three after watching his qualifiers Not as fast as 1, 2 or 3. However, he is rock solid.

5. CHIN CHIN HALL
Cash Hall — Canland Hall
$50,000 Ohio $201,320 2,154.4
David H McDuffee and Oldfield Racing LLC, Walnut Hall Limited
Melanie Wrenn / Peter Wrenn

Has not started in 2019.
Always right there after a harrowing beginning to his 2-year-old season. Has grown and filled out, may be his year. Needs to step it up a notch.

6. CANTAB FASHION
Cantab Hall — Defiant Donato
Homebred, $110,600 2, 151.4
Fashion Farms, Fashion Farms
Jim Campbell / David Miller

Has not started in 2019. Another nice Cantab, and may be the fastest 2-year-old from his sire. Not quite in a class with the top but not far off.

7. KINGS COUNTY
Muscle Hill — Brooklyn
$210,000 Harrisburg $150,032. 2, 152.3
Lindy Farms of Conn, Order By Stable
Domenico Cecere / David Miller
Trained in 1:55, 5/4 Meadowlands

Very talented youngster. Showed signs of greatness last year but his mind was not quite ready. Seems to have put his Muscle Hill traits behind him and belongs with these for sure.

8. WHEN DOVESCRY. (f)
Muscle Hill — Cedar Dove
$ 205,000 Harrisburg $290,710 2, 152.3
Go Fast Stable, Yvette Sarrazin, Kapildeo Singh and Lawrence S Dumain
William Weaver II
Rene Allard / Simon Allard

Has not started in 2019. Great looking, great gaited filly. Plenty of talent. I love her name

9.DON’T LET’EM
Muscle Hill — Passageway
$80,000 Lexington Selected $238,617. 2, 151.4
Brittany Farm LLC, Christina Takter, John D Fielding
And Herb Liverman
Brittany Farms LLC
Nancy Johansson / Marcus Johansson

Third to Gimpanzee in Meadowlands qualifier 5/4, last quarter :26.4. Colt started his career like a house on fire and seemed to have gone too much too soon because he was worn out by the middle of the season and had trouble staying on gait. Watching him qualify I thought he looked great and may be back to his early form. If I am correct he will jump way up on this list.

10. OSTERC
Cantab Hall — Oh Oh Hereshecomes
Homebred $285,876 2,155.2f 3, Q 155.
Christina Takter and Göran Falk
Christina Takter and Göran Falk
Per Engblom / Yannick Gingras

Won the Dexter Cup 5/4 raced 5/11 PASS Meadows. Homebred is handy on all size tracks but has to step it up to go with this group. He is in the right hands and seems on the right track.