Who have harness racing's sharpest minds selected in the 2025 TROT Magazine Fantasy Stable? Trot Insider will feature 'expert picks' in advance of the deadline for this year's contest.
Joining Jacob Rheinheimer, Greg Blanchard and Nick Gallucci on the panel in 2025 is Blake MacIntosh, trainer of 2024 O'Brien Award winning two-year-old filly trotter, Monalishi, who has kicked off her sophomore campaign with one win and one second and serves as MacIntosh's Group A selection. Monalishi won't be the only star trotter joining MacIntosh's fantasy roster, as four-year-old Amazing Catch was selected by the conditioner in Group C.
"I watched this horse last year and liked the way he finished the year," MacIntosh told Trot Insider. "We actually have his full brother in training and we like him."
Amazing Catch made headlines both on track and off a year ago, as he became the highest priced Standardbred ever sold at auction when he brought $2.56 million ($1.85 million USD) during the Standardbred Horse Sale at Harrisburg last fall.
The son of Walner-Mets Life was purchased by Greg Luther Racing after winning two of 12 starts during his three-year-old campaign, headlined by his 13-1 upset score in the Canadian Trotting Classic in a career-best 1:51.4. Trained by Ake Svanstedt, who will retain training duties for the new connections, Amazing Catch also racked up third-place finishes in the Hambletonian and Breeders Crown finals while being runner-up in the Kentucky Futurity en route to banking $965,325 in 2024.
The career earner of $1.14 million has a pair of qualifiers to his credit in 2025, winning the second on May 17 in 1:53.4 at The Meadowlands with Svanstedt in the bike.
MacIntosh's 2025 TROT Magazine Fantasy Stable selections are as follows:
Group A
Monalishi
Group B
Captain Albano
Group C
Amazing Catch
Group D
The Last Martini
Group E
Hellabalou
Group F
Sweet Beach Life
Group G
Lit De Rose
Group H
Voukefalas
Group I
Dax Seelster
Captain Underhand
Group J
Come Fly With Me
World Of Faith
Group K
Kaizen
Spencer Hanover
Group L
Stealing Banksy
Pink Hermes
Group M
Ake Svanstedt
Group N
Blake Macintosh
Group O
Dexter Dunn
Group P
Scott Zeron
Group Q
James MacDonald
Group R
Tyler Borth
Contestants have until 5 p.m. (EDT) on May 23 to make your selections. You cannot change your stable once submitted.
The contest is based on total earnings of selected horses and five percent of the earnings of selected trainers and drivers between May 23, 2025 and Dec. 31, 2025. Follow along all year long!
For the purposes of the fantasy bankroll, the winners (horses only) of the 2025 Hambletonian AND Breeders Crown Finals will each receive a $200,000 contest bankroll bonus. Once again, in the two-year-old categories, you must select TWO horses in each.
At the end of the year, the first three finishers (based on total earnings) will be awarded prizes in the amount of $1,000 CAD for first place, $500 CAD for second place and $250 CAD for third place, as well as the same amount (in USD credit) on OnGait.com. (OnGait credit is transferable).
Full contest rules are available here. Enter your picks below!