Vernon: Greenshoe returns to winning ways in Zweig Memorial rout

Greenshoe was cool, calm and collected for Brian Sears on Saturday night, and that meant an easy victory as the overwhelming public choice in the $330,000 Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial at Vernon Downs in a 1:52 clocking over a track listed as good.

"I was very happy with the way my horse was behaving," said Sears following the victory - a major difference from the second heat two weeks earlier in the Hambletonian.

The start of the Zweig was also radically different than the Hambletonian for Greenshoe as both horse and driver suffered no issues behind the gate or past the start. Marseille predictably jetted to the front, with Don't Let'em easing into the pocket in short order. Sears was able to get a comfortable three-hole as stablemate Green Manalishi, with Tim Tetrick, kept a hole open for the 1-10 favored Greenshoe.

Marseille and Ake Svanstedt hit the quarter in 27 1/5, and as has been their pattern, they slowed the second quarter down significantly, hitting the half in 56 3/5 and waiting for the favorite to make his move. Sears answered the call just before the half and didn't rush up quickly. Instead, he kept Greenshoe off the leader through a three-quarters in 1:25 1/5. Sears and Greenshoe got serious at that point and immediately put away the leader and crossed to the inside in an instant.

Green Manalishi lost contact with his cover, but the rugged colt kept on closing and eventually wore down the early pace-setter for the second spot. Marseille held third, with Hatikvah a solid fourth ahead of Gerry. With the exception of Marseille, four of the top five finishers were all trained by Marcus Melander.

For Greenshoe, it was the sixth victory in eight starts as a sophomore, with the other two races second-place finishes. Owned by Courant Inc., Hans Backe, Lars Granqvist and Morten Langli, Greenshoe pushed his career bankroll to $828,223. Greenshoe returned $2.30 to win.