Meadowlands: Forbidden Trade fights back, knocks off Greenshoe in Hambletonian

Forbidden Trade worked out a good second-over trip, appeared to be passed by a rallying Greenshoe in the lane, but battled back gamely to win the $1 million Hambletonian for 3-year-old trotters on Saturday afteroon at the Meadowlands. Driven by Bob McClure for trainer Luc Blais and owner Determination (Serge Godin), Forbidden Trade won in a lifetime-best 1:51.

Greenshoe and Green Manalishi delivered wins for trainer Marcus Melander and owner Courant Inc. in the eliminations, and Greenshoe (Brian Sears) was the heavy favorite in the final. However, he was rank behind the gate in the final and only got away sixth while giving Osterc (Jimmy Takter) a hole to get him out of the way. Marseille (Ake Svanstedt) would go to the lead and chop out the opening quarter in 26 1/5, followed by Pilot Discretion (Andrew McCarthy), Green Manalishi (Tim Tetrick), and Forbidden Trade.

Pilot Discretion would vacate the pocket and go to the front in the backstretch, becoming the new leader prior to the 55 second half. Green Manalishi would commence a first-over move at that point, followed by Forbidden Trade and Greenshoe. Green Manalishi managed to get the lead on the rim at the 1:23 2/5 three-quarters, while Forbidden Trade was unable to stick right on his cover, he got re-energized when they turned into the stretch, with Greenshoe fanning out off the cover.

In the lane it appeared Greenshoe was going right by and would be this year's Hambletonian champion, but Forbidden Trade battled back determinedly to his inside, and got to the wire a neck to the good at odds of 15-1. Gimpanzee (David Miller) rallied for third, followed by Soul Strong (Dexter Dunn) and Green Manalishi.

"It's hard to put into words," McClure said about winning the Hambletonian in his first appearance. "I kept repeating it on the way over, but I don't think it's sunk in yet. I was really happy with the way the trip was working out. I just didn't know exactly where Greenshoe was; I was hoping he wasn't right on my back. My horse just raced phenomenal. Luc's done a great job with him, and I couldn't be happier.

"It was a little anxious in the first turn. I knew there was a horse outside me, so I didn't want to go to the rail. I was lucky enough that he ducked behind me, so I was lucky to get a little bit of helmet time. I was following a real good horse in Green Manalishi, and he got me where I needed to go. The only looming danger was Greenshoe, and when they hooked up, it was a great race."

Forbidden Trade was second in the Goodtimes at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Pepsi North America Cup night and had won in the Ontario Sires Stakes this year, but stepped up his game in a major way today, something McClure thought he might be able to do.

"My horse just has a lot of class," he remarked. "There were two really incredible colts fighting it out. I don't think there's usually a loser in that, but I'm really glad we came out on top.

"We were confident he could be competitive. You never know just how much was left in Greenshoe's tank, but I did figure he had the ability to go with these horses. Obviously he's stayed healthy and stayed sound. That's good on Luc for keeping him that way, and we're just going to enjoy it."

In recent years McClure has gotten top call on all of Godin's horses, including a win on Hambletonian Day last year with Dream Together in the Dr. John R. Steele Memorial for mare trotters.

"He invests so much in the business, and Luc does a great job taking care of them," McClure said of the team effort. "He's the best owner I've ever driven for. He takes good care of you and doesn't put any pressure on you. I'm so lucky to have them."

A Kadabra-Pure Ivory colt who was the O'Brien Award winner for Canada's top 2-year-old male trotter last year, Forbidden Trade won for the 12th time in his career and paid $33.80 to win. He was bred by Steve Stewart and sold for $110,000 at the 2017 Standardbred Horse Sale.

"A race is a race. When you're in you've got a chance," said Blais, who added that he'd have to check the schedule to determine where Forbidden Trade would make his next start. "My horse raced super good in the elimination. He finished strong, and Bob told me 'I like him in the final.' After that, it's anybody's game. I had a big confidence after that."

For owner Anders Strom, who had three shots to fire at the Hambletonian final in Greenshoe, Green Manalishi, and Gimpanzee, it wasn't a total disappointment given all of them went home with a share of the purse.

"My horses raced fantastic - 2nd, 3rd, and 5th in Hambletonian," he said. "To win the Hambletonian, which is the most prestigious race in the world, you need some racing luck. Brian looked confident down the stretch, but Forbidden Trade, all hats off. I think maybe, forgive me for saying this, for Greenshoe, who has this high-energy attitude, two heats in the same day, on a hot day, maybe he switched it off a little bit. Had it been like eliminations one week before and the final today, he would have won it by a mile.

"I'm so proud of the team what they did today. I just love the day. I think if you ask everyone around here which horse they would like to own, I think 80 percent would say Greenshoe. Forbidden Trade is a fantastic horse. The team around him did fantastically well."

Strom also said he would have to discuss with the whole team the plans for his horses for the remainder of 2019.