Canada has proved to be very kind to Green Manalishi S, and the Marcus Melander trainee took advantage once again on Saturday evening when he front-stepped to a rich score in the $605,000 final of the Canadian Trotting Classic.
Tim Tetrick wasted little time hustling Green Manalishi S to the lead from Post 4, and together they led the talented field through fractions of :27.2, :56.2 and 1:24. A :28.4 closing quarter was enough for Green Manalishi S to seal the deal by a half-length margin over a surging Pilot Discretion in 1:52.4. Smart As Hill was fourth-placed-third as a result of Forbidden Trade, who finished third, being placed back to fifth for causing interference in deep stretch to Only For Justice.
“I wanted to get out of there and either sit really close or go ahead and cut it, but I didn’t want to have to work too hard to do it,” said Tetrick of his strategy. “I wanted him to feel really brave going down the backside and I went a little faster in the third-quarter to get a little separation on them and down by the wire it was getting close, but my horse held on good and he never wins by too many.”
Courant Inc. of Delray Beach, FL owns the son of Muscle Hill-Naga Morich S, who swept last year’s William Wellwood Memorial at the Campbellville, Ont. oval. It was the fifth win of the season – and the 10th to date – for the career winner of $1,248,383.
Green Manalishi S becomes the first horse since Father Patrick in 2014 to win the Wellwood Memorial and Canadian Trotting Classic in consecutive seasons.
“This horse has kind of been in the shadow of Greenshoe and Gimpanzee,” said Tetrick of Green Manalishi S status among Melander’s stable stars. “He’s done really well and he’s made money and won an elimination of the Hambletonian. He’s a very qualified horse.”
Tetrick becomes the winningest driver in the history of the Canadian Trotting Classic with now four titles to his name.
“That’s a big honour,” said Tetrick of claiming the Canadian Trotting Classic wins record. “It just kind of fell into place and worked out really good.”
Tetrick’s previous three victories in the Canadian Trotting Classic came with Crystal Fashion (2018), Bar Hopping (2016) and Market Share (2012).
Be sure to check out the rest of the recaps from Saturday's stakes-packed card in SC's News Centre
To view results for Saturday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(with files from Woodbine)