Harness: Looking forward to a brilliant 2019

Across North America trainers are putting the finishing touches on winter preparation as the best harness racing performers from 2018 are on the verge of qualifying or even making their seasonal debut. It is a time of great uncertainty but also a moment to dream about campaigning a potential once-in-a-lifetime horse.

While watching the qualifiers at The Meadowlands on Saturday morning (4/13), quite a few horses caught my eye. That got the wheels turning inside my head as to which horses I’m most looking forward to see on the track in 2019. But before we dig into that Top 5, here are a few that didn’t make the list which certainly deserve some mention off what I viewed during that session:

Guaranteed, a 3-year-old son of Muscle Hill, uncorked an eye-catching 26 3/5 final quarter to win impressively under just a few taps of the whip by Tim Tetrick for trainer Linda Toscano. He makes his career debut at The Meadowlands on Friday.

Guaranteed stopped the clock in 1:54 4/5, the identical time of Special Honor, who seems to have a beautifully smooth gate. Driven by Andy Miller for trainer/wife Julie, the daughter of Father Patrick looked good.

She didn’t blow me off my seat, but there was nothing wrong with the effort of Warrawee Ubeaut, the fastest 2-year-old pacer in history, as she made her first start in 2019 a winning one in 1:53 2/5 with a 26-second final quarter. Yannick Gingras was in his usual seat behind the daughter of Sweet Lou for trainer Ron Burke.

Despite finishing third, De Los Cielos Deo raced very well finishing under a good hold by Gingras for Burke. The Captaintreacherous-sired colt was a star in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action before fading late in 2018. It will be interesting to see if he can step up.

With the preamble out of the way, we dig into my Top 5 for 2019. Keep in mind that these horses are simply trotters and pacers that I’m looking forward to seeing in 2019. That doesn’t mean that I believe they will be the fastest or earn the most money, but it does mean that I believe the potential is there for any of the quintet to do something special.

#5 GREENSHOE

In harness racing, few characteristics inspire awe like pure speed. We only got to see Greenshoe races four times and he made a break in each of those appearances, but like Mary from the 1998 film, there’s something about Greenshoe. How many horses make breaks and still win? He did it twice, one of them a 1:53 3/5 victory in his second career start.

Trainer Marcus Melander smartly quit for the season with his green and erratic son of Father Patrick to point for the much more important sophomore campaign. If this well-bred colt from the mare Designed To Be can get his act together, the sky may be the limit.

#4 ATLANTA

It is impossible to avoid being drawn into the Atlanta saga. She displayed freaky speed at times last year and became the first filly to win the Hambletonian since 1996. Add into the equation the public buyout of trainer Rick Zeron due to appealed violations in Canada and you have quite the pairing of talent and storyline.

Will Atalnta be the same filly for new trainer Ron Burke? Can she improve in 2019? Will she tackle the boys again? Stay tuned . . .

#3 FILIBUSTER HANOVER

Outside of perhaps his connections, I doubt many people are talking up Filibuster Hanover as one of the horses to watch in the older pacing ranks this year when it includes Horse of the Year McWicked and so many talented returning 4-year-olds, but perhaps they should be.

Let’s remember that he was second behind McWicked in the Breeders Crown and Haughton while putting together a very respectable 19-5-5-5 record as a 4-year-old. Haven’t we heard a million times how difficult it is for horses of that age to tackle their older rivals?

After watching Filibuster Hanover pounce from the pocket to win his first qualifier of the year in 1:51 1/5, I couldn’t help but think that the Ron Burke trainee has all of the tools needed to break out with a career year. He has the early speed needed to gain position and the seasoning now to perhaps win those deep stretch battles that might’ve gone the other way in the past.

#2 WOODSIDE CHARM

She was quite frankly the most impressive 2-year-old we saw on the track in 2018. Owned, trained and driven by Verlin Yoder, Woodside Charm was perfect in seven starts while simply toying with her competition.

While it is a huge downer that she isn’t eligible to the Hambletonian or Hambletonian Oaks, there should be ample opportunity to watch her race this year and hopefully she takes the step forward to superstardom.

#1 KISSIN IN THE SAND

She has become my favorite horse in the sport. Her victories in 2018 were spectacular and even in defeat she displayed her heart and determination.

The Nancy Johansson-trained 4-year-old mare wired the competition in her first qualifying appearance of the year and the performance left me thinking one word – monster. She was spectacular cruising to the half in 57 1/5 before sprinting home in 27 3/5 and 26 3/5 to close out the mile in 1:51 2/5 with regular driver Scott Zeron at the controls.

Older pacing mares are far from the limelight in terms of publicity, but if she can continue to leave it all out on the track like she did throughout her sophomore season, people will gravitate to her and join me on the bandwagon.