By Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile
LEXINGTON,
KY—Division leader Greenshoe kept his crown intact as he patiently pushed for
the front and faced little challenge when cruising to a 1:51.1 mile in the 127th
Kentucky Futurity—going as a $450,000 single heat sponsored by Hunterton Farms,
Stoner Manor Inc. and Menhammer Stuteri Ab—over a “good” track at The Red Mile
on Sunday, Oct. 6.
Stablemate
Green Manalishi S swept to the top from post 8 while Gimpanzee raced first over
to a :27.3 first quarter and supplied cover to fellow Marcus Melander trainee
Greenshoe. Gimpanzee slid to the lead up the backstretch while Greenshoe, the
1-9 favorite, crept closer to the top through a :55.1 half with Pilot
Discretion on cover second over.
Greenshoe
hit his best strides heading to the final turn, rushing 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 while pursued down the center of
the course by Don’t Let’em, who took second. Gimpanzee held third from Soul
Strong closing from the back of the pack for fourth.
“I
was really happy with the way things were working out; I wasn’t getting any
road trouble,” said winning driver Brian Sears 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.”
Earning
$1,241,273 for owners Courant Inc., Hans Backe, Lars Granqvist and Morten
Langli, Greenshoe—bred by Al Libfeld and Marvin Katz—won his 12th
race from 16 starts.
“I
was here for the first time in 2007,” said owner Anders Strom, who co-owns
Greenshoe through 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.
