Forbidden Trade rallied from mid-pack on the final turn to take the lead from battling Amigo Volo and Ready For Moni in the stretch and capture Saturday’s (Nov. 20) $350,000 TVG Series Open Trot championship by a head over Chin Chin Hall in 1:52 at The Meadowlands. Back Of The Neck finished third.
Forbidden Trade was fifth for the first three-quarters of the mile as Amigo Volo led the field to fractions of :27.1, :56 and 1:24.1. When Ready For Moni made a first-over bid for the front, Forbidden Trade followed that cover into the lane and then held off late-closing Chin Chin Hall and Back Of The Neck for the victory.
The three were separated by a neck at the wire.
“He raced super,” winning driver Daniel Dube said about Forbidden Trade. “We got a good trip, second over, and it worked out good.
“He’s always kicking late. From behind like that, he never quits.”
Dube drove Forbidden Trade for trainer Luc Blais and owner Determination stable. The 5-year-old stallion has won five of 14 races this season and earned $601,002. For his career, he has won 21 of 44 starts and $1.91 million. The son of Kadabra out of Pure Ivory was bred by Steve Stewart.
Forbidden Trade was Canada’s Horse of the Year in 2019, when he counted the Hambletonian among his wins for the season. He was limited to five starts last year because of injury.
Sent at odds of 9-2, Forbidden Trade paid $11.00 to win.
(The Meadowlands)
The TVG Open Trot was part of a loaded stakes night at The Meadowlands. Read more on the evening’s action in the TVG, Fall Final Four News Centre.