On Sunday (Oct. 6) at the Red Mile, division leader Greenshoe kept his crown intact. He patiently pushed his way to the front and faced little challenge en route to a 1:51.1 win over a ‘good’ track in the 127th Kentucky Futurity, which featured a purse of $450,000.
The single heat was sponsored by Hunterton Farms, Stoner Manor Inc. and Menhammer Stuteri Ab.
Greenshoe, pictured winning the 2019 Kentucky Futurity.
At the outset, stablemate Green Manalishi S swept to the top from Post 8 while Gimpanzee raced first-over to the :27.3 quarter pole and supplied cover to fellow Marcus Melander trainee Greenshoe. Gimpanzee slid to the lead up the backstretch while Greenshoe, the 1-9 favourite, crept closer to the top through the :55.1 half (Pilot Discretion was positioned second-over at that point).
Greenshoe hit his best stride heading to the final turn and rushed past Gimpanzee to lead the field past three-quarters in 1:24. Through the stretch, the millionaire son of Father Patrick veered wide, but kept to task. Dont Letem, who ultimately finished second, had pursued Greenshoe down the centre of the course. Gimpanzee finished third, while Soul Strong, who had closed from the back of the pack, finished fourth.
“I was really happy with the way things were working out; I wasn’t getting any road trouble,” victorious pilot Brian Sears said after the race. “I was able to be patient with him and ease him up to the front. Then, when I thought it was time to use him up a little bit, he was there for me and was pretty much in hand. I was really happy with the way he scored down, so I was getting a good feeling going behind the gate. He’s got speed that really no other horse I can think of can go with.”
Greenshoe has now earned $1,241,273 for owners Courant Inc., Hans Backe, Lars Granqvist and Morten Langli. Greenshoe, who was bred by Al Libfeld and Marvin Katz, has now won 12 of his 16 career starts.
“I was here for the first time in 2007,” said owner Anders Strom, who co-owns Greenshoe via Courant Inc. “I started my business as a horse owner for real in 2005 and set myself a target to have the world’s best horse in 15 years, and we are up by a photo finish now. Not to say the least to do it with this team of trainer, groom, driver, my co-owners which also will include Hanover Shoe Farms where he will find his new home next season.”
Greenshoe paid $2.20 to win.
(With files from The Red Mile)