Absolute domination is the best way to describe Greenshoe’s performance in the second elimination of the Hambletonian, as the Marcus Melander trainee steamrolled over the seven foes he sparred with Saturday afternoon at The Meadowlands.
Greenshoe winning his Hambletonian elimination (Lisa Photo).
Driver Brian Sears floated the heavily-favoured Greenshoe into an early three-hole while Marseille marched to the front from Post 8 and served up an opening quarter clocked in :27.3. Ake Svanstedt rated his front-stepping charge through a second quarter clocked in :28.2, and that gave them what appeared to be a tactical advantage at the mid-way point in :56.
Sears edged off the rail with Greenshoe, and the son of Father Patrick-Designed To Be went into attack mode in the third quarter. Greenshoe made an explosive rush to the front and took the field to the three-quarter pole in 1:23.3. A :26.4 closing quarter sealed the deal for Greenshoe who comfortably cruised under the line for the 1:50.2 score over Dont Letem and a late-rallying Forbidden Trade. Final berths into the final went to Pilot Discretion and Marseille.
"He was his usual self behind the gate,” said driver Brian Sears. “He was a little rank and a little funny behind the gate, but once I got him out there a few steps he kind of calmed down and found his gait.
"Bob [McClure on Forbidden Trade] kind of popped the pocket and made Ake [Svanstedt on Marseille] go on a little bit so that made my decision up for me to go first-over with him,” Sears added. “And like I said, he's been there before and he shows he can win from there. He felt good. The faster he goes usually the better he feels."
Courant Inc, Hans Backe, Lars Granqvist and Morten Langli share ownership on the seven-time winner who now boasts a 5-1-0 record from six starts this season. The colt will enter the final of the Hambletonian looking to add to a bankroll that now sits at $438,223.
$1,000,000 Hambletonian Final
1. Pilot Discretion (Andrew McCarthy)
2. Greenshoe (Brian Sears)
3. Dont Letem (Yannick Gingras)
4. Green Manalishi S (Tim Tetrick)
5. Marseille (Ake Svanstedt)
6. Forbidden Trade (Bob McClure)
7. Gimpanzee (David Miller)
8. Cantab Fashion (Scott Zeron)
9. Osterc (Jimmy Takter)
10. Soul Strong (Dexter Dunn)
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