The Guru’s Road to the Hambletonian – Week 6

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 $189,223 2,153.3 3,150.2
Courant Inc, Hans R Backe, Lars Granqvist,and Martin Langli
Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld
Marcus Melander / Brian Sears

Maintains a stranglehold on this group with an eye popping 1:52 qualifier at Pocono Downs obviously in preparation for the upcoming Beal Memorial.

2. GREEN MANALISHI S

Muscle Hill — Naga Morich
$270,000 Sweden , $510,557 2, 1:53.4
Courant Inc
AB Svensk Reklamfinas
Marcus Melander / Tim Tetrick

Qualified brilliantly last week after two consecutive breaks. Timmy didn’t race him carefully, either. He used him hard the last half against Hambletonian champion Marion Marauder in 1:53, finishing second. Didn’t race this week

3. GIMPANZEE

Chapter Seven — Steamy Windows
$170,000 Harrisburg $695,730 2,1:54.3, 3, 1:54
Courant Inc and SRF Stable
Order By Stable
Marcus Melander / Brian Sears

Qualified at the Meadowlands yesterday in 1:53.4, winning easily. I still need to see more speed to move him up the ladder.

4. PILOT DISCRETION

Muscle Hill — Self Indulgent
$100,000 Lexington Selected $160,600, 3, 1:52
J. Leblanc, David Anderson and John Fodera
Steve H. Stewart and David W. Miller
Tony Alagna / Andrew McCarthy

Colt is six-for-six lifetime and won the Goodtimes final last night in 1:52.4.

5. DON’T LET’EM

Muscle Hill — Passageway
$80,000 Lexington Selected $243,867,617. 2, 1:51.4
Brittany Farm LLC, Christina Takter, John D Fielding and Herb Liverman
Brittany Farms LLC
Nancy Johansson / Marcus Johansson

Went a big mile in a NW event at the Meadowlands last Friday night. Was beaten by a nose in 1:52 last quarter in :26.1 by the hottest 4-year-old mare at the Meadowlands Say You Do. He was flying late. Most definitely a step in the right direction for Marcus and Nancy. Not in to go this week.

6. KINGS COUNTY

Muscle Hill — Brooklyn
$210,000 Harrisburg $150,032. 2, 1:52.3
Lindy Farms of Conn
Order By Stable
Domenico Cecere/ David Miller

Made an uncharacteristic break on the way to the half in his Goodtimes elimination. Was his first start this year. I blame it on being too fresh. Gets a pass. Didn’t race this week.

7. WHEN DOVESCRY (f)

Muscle Hill — Cedar Dove
$205,000 Harrisburg $290,710 2, 1:52.3
Go Fast Stable, Yvette Sarrazin, Kapildeo Singh and Lawrence S Dumain
William Weaver II
Rene Allard / Simon Allard

Still hasn’t raced in 2019. Will make some inquiries. Very talented lass, will not throw her under the bus yet.

8. CANTAB FASHION

Cantab Hall — Defiant Donato
Homebred, $110,600 2, 1:51.4
Fashion Farms 
| Fashion Farms
Jim Campbell / David Miller

Finally drew inside for a qualifier at the Meadowlands Saturday morning, but it didn’t help his cause any, there is a piece to the puzzle missing right now.

9. OSTERIC

Cantab Hall — Oh Oh Hereshecomes
Homebred $347,292, 3, 1:52.2
Christina Takter and Goran Falk
Per Engblom / Yannick Gingras

Returns quickly to the list with a bang up track record performance at Harrah’s Philadelphia in 1:52.2 wire to wire and actually under wraps at the finish.

10. FORBIDDEN TRADE

Kadabra — Pure Ivory
$110,000 Harrisburg $322,463 3, 1:53.1
Determination, Steve Stewart
Luc Blais / Bob McClure

Colt finished a half-length back of Pilot Discretion in the Goodtimes last night.