By Frank Cotolo, for The Meadowlands
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Soaring four wide late in the stretch,
Forbidden Trade upset a sterling field of older trotters, including the super
mare Manchego, to win the $135,000 Crawford Farms Trot on July 3 at The
Meadowlands.
Forbidden Trade, driven by Daniel Dube, was sixth when It’s
Academic cut the first quarter in :27.1. The Veteran followed in second and
Majestic Player rolled easily in third. Race-favorite Manchego sat fourth in
the early going, but when It’s Academic rated the half in :56.3, she came out
of fourth to challenge for the lead with Lindy The Great catching cover second
over and Forbidden Trade third over.
Manchego cruised uncovered around the final turn to match
strides with It’s Academic to three-quarters in 1:24.2. Dube steered Forbidden
Trade around Lindy The Great to launch a late charge that at first did not look
hopeful. But as Manchego battled with Lindy The Great and It’s Academic in deep
stretch, Forbidden Trade brushed by full of trot, going a final quarter in
:26.4 to get to the wire first by a neck in a 1:51.1 mile.
Lindy The Great held on for second with Manchego third and It’s
Academic finishing fourth.
“I would have liked to get away closer [in the start], said
Dube. “With the rail it’s touch to push out of there sometimes.” Dube said once
Forbidden Trade got “in gear” he was trotting strongly. “I followed [Manchego]
and [Lindy The Great] … then he dug in. That’s an amazing horse.”
Forbidden Trade paid $16.80 to win. It was his second win of
2021 in 18 starts. Trained by Luc Blais, the 5-year-old son of Kadabra amazed
Meadowlands fans before when he came from behind to win The Hambletonian at
15-1 in 2019.
Determination of Quebec, Canada owns Forbidden Trade, who has
now won $1,413,232.
Another Hambletonian winner, Atlanta, driven by Yannick Gingras,
won the $156,000 Joie De Vie Trot over 10 rivals, also timed in 1:51.1.
Outsider Morairtime shot to the lead off the gate as Ramona Hill
broke and an early shuffle for the lead ensued to a :27.2 first quarter.
Hypnotic AM challenged for the top and Felicityshagwell S settled in third
while When Dovescry, who left from the second tier, rushed three wide to the
front to take the lead. The field settled with those positions until 4-5
favorite Atlanta took the outside path and grabbed a short lead over When Dovescry
moving to three-quarters in 1:24.4.
The 2018 Hambletonian winner easily drew away off the turn to
win by 2 1/2 lengths while When Dovescry held on for second and Hypnotic AM
found late foot to take the third spot. Next Level Stuff checked in next in fourth.
It was the second win of the season for Atlanta, trained by Ron
Burke, and her 27th victory in her career. The 6-year-old
Chapter Seven mare has now won $2,752,973.
Gingras said Atlanta “is so freakin’ good right now. I don’t
know if she’s ever been better.” Gingras said he was not happy having to go
first over with her “but she came with a handful of trot. I was just patient
with her and didn’t have to call on her too early. About three or four strides
into the stretch I asked her and she took off like a pacer. She’s
unbelievable.”
Crawford Farms, Bradley Grant and Howard Taylor own Atlanta, who
paid $3.80 to win.
