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 $326,723 3,1:50.2
Courant Inc, Hans R Backe, Lars Granqvist,and Martin Langli
Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld
Marcus Melander / Brian Sears

In what may have been his most impressive race yet, he was beaten by Marseille after a cagey drive by Ake Svanstedt in the final of the Beal. Was loaded with trot coming from an impossible spot. Remains the choice of this writer by a large margin. Had the week off in preparation for next week’s Stanley Dancer eliminations.

2. PILOT DISCRETION

Muscle Hill — Self Indulgent
$100,000 Lexington Selected $129,725, 3, 1:52
J. Leblanc, David Anderson and John Fodera
Steve H. Stewart and David W. Miller
Tony Alagna / Andrew McCarthy

Moved up off a stunning win in the Goodtimes final at Woodbine Mohawk. Qualified at the Meadowlands in what I expect was a prep for next week’s Stanley Dancer eliminations, and what should be a showdown with the top pick and his stablemates. The qualifier could not have been better (1:51.3). He is ready for the Green Team.

3. GREEN MANALISHI S

Muscle Hill — Naga Morich
$270,000 Sweden , $583,057 2, 1:53.4
Courant Inc
AB Svensk Reklamfinas
Marcus Melander / Tim Tetrick

Lost no points in my book after a fine third-place finish in the Beal, also coming from an impossible place. I would think the week off before the Dancer was a smart decision.

4. GIMPANZEE

Chapter Seven — Steamy Windows
$170,000 Harrisburg $723,146 3, 1:54
Courant Inc and SRF Stable
Order By Stable
Marcus Melander / Brian Sears

Believe it or not this nice colt who remains undefeated will likely need a new driver if Melander decides to go to the Dancer with all three colts next week. I am sure this has happened before but I don’t recall a similar instance. If and when it happens somedriversomewhere will have a big smile on his face.

5. FORBIDDEN TRADE

Kadabra — Pure Ivory
$110,000 Harrisburg $43,130 3, 1:53
Determination, Steve Stewart
Luc Blais / Bob McClure

Colt was a very creditable second to Pilot Discretion in the Goodtimes Final at Mohawk. Won a Ontario Sires Stake for $80k Monday in 1:53 last quarter in a quick :26.3 Dancer eligible next weekend.

6. OSTERIC

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

After a bang-up Sires Stakes victory, he looked a little ordinary in his Beal elimination. All things being equal, Greenshoe can make any colt look ordinary. Made a break in the Beal Final. Time for Engblom to return to the drawing board here. We are only 30 days from post time. Not in to go this week.

7. DON’T LET’EM

Muscle Hill — Passageway
$80,000 Lexington Selected $254,367, 2, 1:51.4
Brittany Farm LLC, Christina Takter, John D Fielding and Herb Liverman
Brittany Farms LLC
Nancy Johansson / Marcus Johansson

Raced in a NW7 at the Meadowlands and looked fabulous destroying the overnight field in 1:51.3. It looks to this writer that Nancy has found the keys and this guy is well on the comeback trail. The colt put in a wonderful qualifier finishing a very fast closing second to Pilot Discretion at the Meadowlands in 1:51.3 yesterday. Looks like a definite for the Dancer next weekend.

8. 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

Look fabulous in her first appearance of 2019 running away from a group in a Pocono qualifier. Still has a lot of catching up to do. She is in to go tonight in a NW 6 event at Pocono Downs. Not eligible to the Delvin Miller next week.

9. EVIDENT BEAUTY (f)

Trixton — Struck By Lindy
$80,000 Lexington Selected $373,192 3, 1:52.3
Mel Hartman, Little E LLC, RAW Equine
White Birch Farm
R. Nifty Norman / David Miller

Undefeated very talented lass has won all three starts this year. The final of the New Jersey Sires Stakes was a whopper. Raced last night off a 36-day lay-off at the Meadowlands in a division of the Reynolds. Eligible and likely starter in the Delvin Miller next weekend. The owners are very game. If she remains this good you never know.

10. MARSEILLE

Muscle Hill — Order By Wish
$180,000 Harrisburg $317,758 3, 152.3
Ake Svanstedt, Order By Stable, Howard Taylor
Order By Stable
Ake Svansted / Ake Svanstedt

Upset winner of the Beal last weekend. Ake likes to win big races with horses no one can figure. This colt has won the most money of any 3-year-old this year. Do I think he is as fast as the top picks? Certainly not, but as I said I have seen Ake miracles before and right now the colt deserves a spot on the list. He is not eligible to the Dancer which means he will need another start somewhere before the big dance.