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 $89,223 2,1:53.3 3,1:51.2
Courant Inc, Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld
Marcus Melander / Brian Sears

This magnificent creature remains at the top of my list. Nothing has happened as of this writing to change his position as the stand alone speedball. Marcus Melander has decided that the 1:51.2 earth-shattering performance last week in the first division of the NJSS earned him a week off. He has nothing more to prove and it’s a long year. As The Guru says in instances like this “less is more.” He doesn’t need another start to be eligible to the final so why waste a start. They become quite valuable at year’s end.

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 last evening at the Meadowlands. Was making a big three-deep move on the final turn and went off stride. That was his second miscue in last two attempts. Not a good sign. However Melander created one miracle already this year by getting the head straight on my top pick Greenshoe. Never underestimate the powers of “Baby Trainer.”

3. 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

After a brilliant qualifier will likely be odds on in the Empire Classic Final at Vernon on Monday afternoon.

4. CHIN CHIN HALL

Cash Hall — Canland Hall
$50,000 Ohio $201,320 2, 1:54.4
David H McDuffee and Oldfield Racing LLC, Walnut Hall Limited
Melanie Wrenn/ Peter Wrenn looks to have changed to R.Nifty Norman/David Miller

Colt ships east after a so-so qualifier. Qualified last evening at the Meadowlands for a new trainer/driver team. Colt was trotting along on an easy lead and looked like he lost his air stopping badly. Great connections. They will figure it out.

5. CANTAB FASHION

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

Has yet to make his 2019 debut.

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

Was scratched sick last Saturday from qualifier at the Meadowlands. Qualified at the Meadowlands last evening, finishing second in 1:54.4 .He went right to the top looking for the two hole behind Manchego but she never went to the front. He yielded the top to Chin Chin Hall and retook before the 3⁄4 only to be caught by Don’t Let’em in a good first asking.

7. 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

Unraced to date 2019.

8. 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

Made a break in his qualifier at the Meadowlands 5/18. Qualified back last evening at the Meadowlands winning in 1:54.4 with a ferocious last eighth kick.

9. GOES DOWN SMOOTH

Muscle Hill — Peach Martini
$82,000 Harrisburg. $90,762 3, 1:53.4
Burke Racing, Switala, Martin and Weaver Bruschemi 
Concord Stud
Ron Burke / Yannick Gingras

Impressive winner of PASS at the Meadows in 1:54.3. Never asked to trot 5/11. Not back in the box yet.

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 div. PASS at The Meadows 1:55.1 easily 5/11.

**Please note that my order didn’t change because none of the selections raced for purse money. I don’t give credence to qualifiers in assessing talent.