Ake Svanstedt, who won the 2017 Hambletonian through disqualification with Perfect Spirit, will send two horses into Saturday’s event. Marseille is 5-1 in the second elimination, where Greenshoe is the 4-5 favourite, and Soul Strong is 8-1 in the first elim, where Gimpanzee is the 2-1 choice.

Marseille, winning at Pocono

Svanstedt trains both horses and will drive Marseille, who is owned by Svanstedt, Stefan Balazsi’s Order By Stable, and Howard Taylor. Dexter Dunn is listed to drive Soul Strong, who is owned by Cees Faber’s Stable Why Not.

Marseille upset Greenshoe to win the Earl Beal Jr. Memorial on June 29.

For the year, he has won three of five races and never been worse than third. The son of Muscle Hill-Order By Wish heads to the Hambletonian off a career-best 1:51.4 victory in a division of the Tompkins-Geers on July 20.

“He raced good the last time and he is training normal,” Svanstedt said.

Marseille was limited to four races last year because of soreness. When he returned this year, his behaviour left much to be desired. The connections considered gelding Marseille, but decided to hold off and gave the colt another opportunity to show improvement. He finished second in a qualifier and then won his seasonal debut, which ended the discussion.

“Maybe he heard what we were talking about,” Svanstedt said, smiling. “After he qualified and started racing, his head changed totally. He is not a stud when he comes to race. He has focus. He is a real racehorse and he wants to race. He is all business.”

Soul Strong was winless in eight races last year but has won three of six starts in 2019. He finished second to Marseille in the Tompkins-Geers.

Soul Strong, winning at The Meadowlands

“He was not so good gaited when we started but his gait is better and better,” Svanstedt said. “He was always a little sore and it was a balance how much we could train and race. But he has a good heart and has gotten stronger and stronger. We gelded him over the winter, and he is better now. He is older and stronger. He is going to be faster and faster.”

Svanstedt, like many others, considers Greenshoe the horse to beat.

“Greenshoe is No. 1 but behind him it’s wide open,” Svanstedt said. “In the Hambletonian, there is good money behind the winner also. Of course, I want to win. But I must be realistic.

“It’s tough to be (in the Hambletonian). Everything must be a hundred per cent perfect that day. When all the horses are on the same level, it can be the post position and the horse must be a hundred per cent that day. Everything must be good.”

The top five finishers from each opening-heat division will return later in race card to contest the $1-million final (post time 5:14 p.m.). The final will be featured during a live broadcast that will be aired on the CBS Sports Network from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m.

The post positions for the opening-heat divisions appear below.

2019 HAMBLETONIAN
Heat 1 – Elimination 1
Post-Driver-Trainer-Morning Line Odds
1-Cantab Fashion-Dexter Dunn-Jim Campbell-6/1
2-Summit In Sight-Andy Miller-Julie Miller-20/1
3-Swandre The Giant-David Miller-Ron Burke-7/2
4-Soul Strong-Dexter Dunn-Ake Svanstedt-8/1
5-Mr Vicktor-Tyler Buter-Jennifer Lappe-15/1
6-Osterc-Yannick Gingras-Per Engblom-15/1
7-Gimpanzee-Brian Sears-Marcus Melander-2/1
8-Green Manalishi S-Tim Tetrick-Marcus Melander-5/2

2019 HAMBLETONIAN
Heat 1 – Elimination 2
Post-Driver-Trainer-Morning Line Odds
1-Forbidden Trade-Bob McClure-Luc Blais-12/1
2-Gerry-Orjan Kihlstrom-Marcus Melander-20/1
3-Pilot Discretion-Andrew McCarthy-Tony Alagna-10/1
4-Reign Of Honor-David Miller-R. Nifty Norman-20/1
5-Greenshoe-Brian Sears-Marcus Melander-4/5
6-Dont Letem-Yannick Gingras-Nancy Johansson-4/1
7-Super Schissel-Scott Zeron-Per Engblom-10/1
8-Marseille-Ake Svanstedt-Ake Svanstedt-5/1

To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at the Big M, click the following link: Saturday Entries – Meadowlands Racetrack.

(USTA)