Meadowlands: Melander crew ready for stakes action

Marcus Melander expects to have an interesting weekend as the days preparing for the biggest afternoon in harness racing rapidly approach. With The Hambletonian Oaks $50,000 eliminations on Saturday, Melander has What A Knockout slated for action and one night earlier he’ll send out Speed Titan in the first of two Jim Doherty Memorial trials for freshman trotting fillies.

“I think What A Knockout has a good chance to reach the final,” Melander said. “I’m not saying she can beat Plunge Blue Chip, Manchego or Phaetosive, but she’s a nice filly and deserves a chance.”

Melander’s chances improved when the Donato Hanover-sired What A Knockout drew the rail in the first (race 5) of two eliminations on Saturday night. Melander was a bit disappointed in the seventh-place finish in the Del Miller Memorial two weeks ago but since then the filly has trained back nicely and he’s optimistic of a better result this time.

“She can race from behind,” Melander said. “She won coming first over in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at The Meadows.”

What A Knockout will have to mind her manners with Manchego (post 7), Hey Blondie (post 4) and Seviyorum (post 9) in the same elimination field.

Melander’s bumper crop of freshmen includes a filly from the first crop of E L Titan named Speed Titan. Thus far she’s proven to have the speed and stakes potential in just three trips behind the gate.

“She’s Ontario bred and we made the decision not to send her up there and instead point for this race,” said Melander. “I put her in the Kindergarten and was very excited with her performance.”

In a division of the Kindergarten on July 13, Speed Titan scored in a career best 1:56 1/5 mile holding off the well-bred Susy by just a neck on the wire.

“Brian (Sears) was very happy with her and said she was just waiting on horses and had plenty of power left,” said Melander, referring to the short margin of victory.

Speed Titan landed post six and will be in for her most difficult test of her brief career. Kindergarten winner Hanna Dreamgirl drew the rail for trainer Linda Toscano coming off a 1:56 maiden-breaking win on July 20. The aforementioned Susy, a Father Patrick-sired sister to Shake It Cerry, was a 1:55 1/5 winner in another Kindergarten stanza that night. Susy drew post three in this Doherty elimination. Hanovers Best, a recent Pennsylvania Sire Stakes winner, drew post five in her Meadowlands debut for trainer Ron Burke.

Melander is excited about his three Peter Haughton Memorial freshmen trotting colts and said that Greenshoe, the New Jersey Sire Stakes champion, would be in to qualify on Saturday morning.

“He just gets so excited to race when he goes out on the racetrack,” said Melander of the playfulness the son of Father Patrick has shown and the breaking problems he’s had behind the gate. “We’ve worked with him on the farm and he’s getting better. He’s a smart horse and doesn’t want to make a mistake.”

Greenshoe did break behind the gate in the New Jersey Sire Stakes final but driver Brian Sears had him recover quickly and the result was a 1:53 3/5 victory.

For Melander the times are a bit surprising but he believes the horses are doing it within themselves. “When I qualified him the first time (a 1:55 mile on June 2) it’s not like he came home in 30 seconds,” said Melander. “He felt very easy doing it. Sure I was surprised. We had trained him in 2:01-2:02 before and I expected to go maybe 1:57-1:58.”

Despite Greenshoe’s apparent early season prowess, Melander doesn’t believe his two entrymates, namely Green Manalishi S and Gerry, are that far off talent-wise or even less talented than Greenshoe. “I have a great group of 2-year-olds this year,” said Melander. “I’m very excited about all three entering the Haughton.”

The Haughton drew 10 horses and all will head directly to a $422,350 final on August 4.

Greenshoe will stay on the big track after his early August Meadowlands engagement and head to The Red Mile for Kentucky Sire Stakes action.

Melander said that both Evaluate and Fourth Dimension are going to the Hambletonian. “I was happy with Fourth Dimension’s last qualifier,” said Melander. “As for Evaluate, he didn’t like the hard track last week but he warmed up good and feels sharp right now.” Evaluate broke stride in last week’s Tompkins at The Meadowlands.

“They will both be ready for the Hambletonian,” Melander said.

Post time for both Meadowlands cards this weekend is 7:15 p.m. Hambletonian Day (August 4) offers a special noon post time.