Who would harness racing's sharpest minds select in the 2020 Trot Magazine Fantasy Stable? Trot Insider will feature 'expert picks' in advance of the deadline for this year's contest.
Director of Marketing & Communications for The Raceway at Western Fair District, Greg Blanchard has offered his picks for the 2020 Fantasy Stable. Blanchard highlighted a horse who was praised by driver Mark MacDonald in a recent episode of COSA TV -- Hickfromfrenchlick, and backed his choice with solid reasoning.
"A top colt in the NYSS program at both two and three, he has the look of a horse who can take that next step against top open company. I had a chance to interview Mark MacDonald recently and he pointed out that the colt has been training back very impressively and appears primed for a productive four-year-old campaign."
Hickfromfrenchlick put forth an outstanding three-year-old season winning 11 of 15 starts while finishing in the top three in each of those 15 starts. The stallion son of So Surreal - My Girls A Star took a lifetime mark of 1:48.4 at Tioga Downs while earning $500,136 during his sophomore season. Trained by Ray Schnittker, Hickfromfrenchlick paced five of his 15 starts in 1:50 or better and was highly successful when allowed to control the tempo on the front end.
Group A:
Ramona Hill
Group B:
Caviart Ally
Group C:
Manchego
Group D:
Hickfromfrenchlick
Group E:
Boadicea
Group F:
JK First Lady
Group G:
Dorsoduro Hanover
Group H:
JK American Beauty
Group I: Two-Year-Old Colt Pacers:
Shakespeare (sold as Get Going Hanover)
Marlboro Seelster
Group J: Two-Year-Old Filly Pacers:
Farady Hanover
Imonabeach Hanover
Group K: Two-Year-Old Colt Trotters:
Damien
Spy Booth
Group L: Two-Year-Old Filly Trotters:
Quickest Hanoover
Plaid And Pearls
Group M: Trainers 1:
Tony Alagna
Group N: Trainers 2:
Blake MacIntosh
Group O: Drivers 1:
Yannick Gingras
Group P: Drivers 2:
Andy McCarthy
Group Q: Drivers 3:
Bob McClure
Group R: Drivers 4:
James MacDonald
Entries for the 2020 Fantasy Stable Contest can be made up until 5:00 pm (EST) on Friday, May 17. Stables cannot be altered once submitted. Click here to enter!
The contest is based on total earnings of selected horses and five percent of the earnings of selected trainers and drivers between May 17 and December 31, 2020..
For the purposes of the fantasy bankroll, the winners (horses only) of the 2020 Breeders Crown Finals will each receive a $200,000 contest bankroll bonus. Also, in the two-year-old categories, contestants are once again asked to select TWO horses.
At the end of the year, the winner of the contest will receive entry into and travel to the 2021 World Harness Handicapping Championship, a prize valued at (approx) $1,300.
PLEASE NOTE: TROT/SC reserve the right to change the entry, start and/or end dates of this contest, depending on how the 2020 harness racing season may be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Stay tuned to the Standardbred Canada website for more details.