Bob McClure won the Dr. John R. Steele Memorial with Dream Together on Hambletonian Day last year, so it was jokingly suggested to him it should be no problem to win his Hambletonian debut this year.

“I wouldn’t say that,” McClure said with a laugh. “It takes a lot of horsepower and good luck. But it’s fun when it does come together.”

McClure will try and have his fun driving Forbidden Trade from the rail in the second 2019 Hambletonian elimination. The horse has four wins and two seconds in six starts this year, good for $163,241 in earnings. Last year he won seven of 11 starts and earned $$300,436 in winning the O’Brien Award as the top two-year-old trotting colt of the Year in Canada. The son of Kadabra-Pure Ivory is trained by Luc Blais for Determination Stable of Quebec.

Connections of Forbidden Trade receive the O'Brien Award

“I don’t think he’s disappointed anybody yet,” McClure said. “He’s only been beaten twice. The first time he was on a half (-mile track) and the next time he got locked in. He almost got out to beat Pilot Discretion (in the $185,250 Goodtimes final at Woodbine Mohawk Park). I think every race he’s had, he’s improved and couldn’t be going into the Hambo any better.

“I think the sky is the limit for him. He’s been a professional from day one. He’s made my job easy. If he’s in any position to win he usually gets the job done. He’s been fun to drive all year. I think he has the potential to be a top Grand Circuit horse.”

McClure likes Forbidden Trade’s versatility, nothing that as a two-year-old “he just chased horses,” and that this year, “out of nowhere in the Goodtimes elim, I left with him. He’s very handy either way. He doesn’t have a preferred style.”

On April 25, McClure suffered a broken pelvis in an accident during qualifiers at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and returned to the sulky May 23 using a hyperbaric chamber three to four times a week to aid his recovery.

After all that, needless to say Saturday is a big day for the 28-year-old.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “I definitely never would have thought this two years ago. But I wouldn’t be here without Determination Stable. That’s a big contribution to it all. I owe it all to them.”

As for whether last year’s Steele victory can help him, McClure said, “It doesn’t hurt. Last year we went into it kind of green, but came out OK. I think as long as you’ve got some good horses and some confidence, you’ll be OK.”

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

2019 HAMBLETONIAN
Heat 1 – Elimination 1
Post-Driver-Trainer-Morning Line Odds
1-Cantab Fashion-Scott Zeron-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

Important Links:

► Saturday Entries – Meadowlands Racetrack

► 2019 Hambletonian Day Program Pages

(USTA)