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 $403,223 3,1:50.1
Courant Inc, Hans R Backe, Lars Granqvist,and Martin Langli
Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld
Marcus Melander / Brian Sears

Has the week off. I wouldn’t be surprised if his next start is in the Hambletonian. Remains the choice of this writer by a large margin. If there were any non-believers still out there I doubt there are after Greenshoe absolutely crushed the competition in a 1:50.1 romp in his Dancer test last week. Truly amazing colt. 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.

2. PILOT DISCRETION

Muscle Hill — Self Indulgent
$100,000 Lexington Selected $167,975, 3, 1:52
J. Leblanc, David Anderson and John Fodera
Steve H. Stewart and David W. Miller
Tony Alagna / Andrew McCarthy

Raced well in defeat to Greenshoe but was NO MATCH. Finished third last night in his Tompkins-Geers division won by Marseille (after the rankings were already set for the week).

3. GREEN MANALISHI S

Muscle Hill — Naga Morich
$270,000 Sweden , $621,307 2, 1:52.1
Courant Inc
AB Svensk Reklamfinas
Marcus Melander / Tim Tetrick

Disappointing second to Swandre The Giant in 1:51.3, but I had three Hambletonian winners that all lost the Dancer (or the Beacon Course as it was called at that time). Dominated his Tompkins-Geers division last night in 1:52.

4. GIMPANZEE

Chapter Seven — Steamy Windows
$170,000 Harrisburg $753,046 3, 1:52.4
Courant Inc and SRF Stable
Order By Stable
Marcus Melander / Brian Sears

Absolutely destroyed a field of Sires Stakes colts at Tioga on Friday night on a rain-soaked oval in 1:52.4, two fifths of a second off the track record.

5. FORBIDDEN TRADE

Kadabra — Pure Ivory
$110,000 Harrisburg $350,730 3, 1:53.1
Determination, Steve Stewart
Luc Blais / Bob McClure

In against a weak field again Monday at Mohawk. When he comes south of the border is a mystery.

6. SWANDRE THE GIANT

Swan For All — Adagio
$17,000 Indy resold privately $417,568, 1:51.3
J & T Silva, Howard Taylor, Diamond Creek Racing, DM Stables
Ron Burke / David Miller

Not in to go this week. Won his first race outside the state of Indiana with a very impressive win over Green Manalishi coming first up in the Stanley Dancer first division. That’s the good news. Unfortunately, it was a case of first-time Lasix, which was a brilliant addition to a colt that had difficulty finishing his miles all season. The use of Lasix is not permitted in the rules for the Hambletonian so I would question first if he would even be an entry and then would he be competitive without the drug? One thing is for certain, it’s good Ronnie solved the puzzle as this colt was a very expensive purchase.

7. DON’T LET’EM

Muscle Hill — Passageway
$80,000 Lexington Selected $254,367, 2, 1:51.3
Brittany Farm LLC, Christina Takter, John D Fielding and Herb Liverman
Brittany Farms LLC
Nancy Johansson / Marcus Johansson

Sat a perfect trip last night in his elimination of the Dancer and made a break trying to keep up. It’s been a bumpy road for this talented colt.

8. MILLIES POSSESION (f)

Muscle Hill — Cedar Dove
Homebred $170,517 3, 1:51.1
Fashion Farms LLC
Fashion Farms LLC
Jim Campbell / Dexter Dunn

A wonderful start (seven straight) for this talented homebred from the team of owner/breeder Jules Siegel and trainer Jim Campbell. Her win last week after pedestrian fractions was marvelous. Not in to go this week.

9. EVIDENT BEAUTY (f)

Trixton — Struck By Lindy
$80,000 Lexington Selected $436,825 3, 1:52.3
Mel Hartman, Little E LLC, RAW Equine
White Birch Farm
R. Nifty Norman / David Miller
Not in to go this week. Won a division of the Delvin Miller last week handily in 1:52.3. The chart makes it look closer than it was as Tim Tetrick and Cloud Nine Fashion made a furious charge to go head and head and appeared to take the lead, but off pedestrian fractions. The end result was never in doubt.

10. MARSEILLE

Muscle Hill — Order By Wish
$180,000 Harrisburg $342,983 3, 151.4
Ake Svanstedt, Order By Stable, Howard Taylor
Order By Stable
Ake Svanstedt / Ake Svanstedt

Looked strong while winning his Tompkins-Geers division last night in 1:51.4. Upset winner of the Beal. Ake likes to win big races with horses no one can figure out.