Vernon: Melander-trained colts reign in Zweig Memorial Trot

Trainer Marcus Melander finished first and second in the $310,000 Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial for sophomore colt and gelding trotters at Vernon Downs, with favored Temporal Hanover hitting the wire ahead of stablemate Periculum in a 1:52 2/5 mile.

The complexion of this race changed early when Branded By Lindy (Yannick Gingras), Cool Papa Bell (Scott Zeron), and Slay (Tim Tetrick) all made breaks in stride. That allowed Fast As The Wind (Dexter Dunn), who was starting from the outside post nine, to leave out and clear Temporal Hanover (Brian Sears) for the top spot before the 26 2/5 opening quarter.

Fast As The Wind maintained command through a 55 3/5 half and a 1:24 2/5 three-quarters, but at the latter marker he was under attack from a first-over Pretender (Andy McCarthy), who had pulled out of fourth on the last turn, and Temporal Hanover had room to angle out late on the bend as World At War Deo (David Miller) was gapping cover from second-over.

In the stretch Temporal Hanover went by the battling Fast As The Wind and Pretender, and from there, he was able to stay ahead of Periculum (Mattias Melander), who swung out after racing on the cones in third and fourth, to tally by three-quarters of a length. Pretender held third from 98-1 shot Majestic J (Todd McCarthy), who trotted up the inside after saving ground on the pylons, and Slay overcame his miscue to get fifth.

"Marcus did a great job giving him a little rest after racing him hard in the two [New Jersey] sire stakes. He's only had one qualifier, but he raced real good in his three previous starts, so I was feeling pretty confident going in if I got a decent trip," said Sears. "I couldn't ask for a better trip. I got a little lucky to be able to slide out around the last turn, but it worked out."

Temporal Hanover is a Walner colt bred by Hanover Shoe Farms and trained by Melander for owners AMG Stable Inc., Kenneth Kjellgren, Rick Wahlstedt, and Heights Stable. He has won half of his 16 career starts, has now pocketed $452,666, and paid $4.70 to win as the favorite.

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In the $53,410 consolation race, King Of The North (Mark MacDonald) was in the lead at the 27 second opening quarter and the 55 4/5 half, but Testing Testing (David Miller), who went first-up from third in the backstretch, cleared King Of The North for the top spot heading into the last turn.

Testing Testing would maintain the front through a 1:24 2/5 three-quarters, then came home in 27 3/5 to fend off King Of The North by a neck in 1:52 flat. Molotov Cocktail (Zeron) finished third. Wallet (Sears), Robertsin (T. McCarthy), and Tachyon (Ake Svanstedt) rounded out the order.

George Ducharme trains Testing Testing, a colt by Walner bred by Warrawee Farm, for the ownership group of W.J. Donovan, Purnel & Libby LLC., Joe Sbrocco, and Jim Winske. He has compiled a record of 5-1-1 from 13 trips behind the gate, has now banked $120,065, and returned $6.10 to win as part of a three-horse entry that was the 2-1 third choice.