Western Shore converted a perfect pocket trip into a plentiful pay day after taking a new mark of 1:49.3 in the $31,500 Invitational Pace on Saturday at Meadowlands Racetrack

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Andy Miller scored one of five wins on the 13-race card aboard the six-year-old son of Western Hanover, who was quickest off the gate but settled for a two-hole trip behind Race Track Ruler and John Campbell. Landing on top by the first quarter in :27.1, Race Track Ruler led the field to the half in :55 then rolled past three-quarters in 1:22.3. Heading down the stretch, Race Track Ruler drifted off the rail and Western Shore [$14.40, $6.40, $4.20] took full advantage squeezing by and getting up for the win in a career best clocking of 1:49.3.

Race Track Ruler [$13.40, $6.80] stayed for second as Montecito N [$5.00] with George Brennan rallied off second-over cover to finish third.

Western Shore, who has put together a seasonal record reading 1-3-2 in seven starts with over $76,000 in earnings, is conditioned by Joe Poliseno for John Cancelliere of Clark, New Jersey. In his career, the bay has won 16 times banking $783,396.

To view Saturday’s results, click here.

Conte Continues Winning Streak In Meadowlands Tournament

John Conte, the 2009 Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Champion, added another tournament win to his resume in Meadowlands Racetrack's Horseplayer World Series Qualifier on Saturday night.

On the eve of his 69th birthday, Conte churned his $100 bankroll into $1,014, netting him the $7,000 first prize and a spot in the 2010 Horseplayer World Series at The Orleans Casino in Las Vegas. Players were required to bet 10-15 races from Gulfstream Park, Aqueduct and Tampa Bay. Contest wagers had to meet a $10 minimum, $100 maximum per race; be win, place or combination and on one horse per race.

"I hit my first race with a $46 horse and was never worse than second," Conte said. "I was going back and forth with the runner-up [Patrick Famularo] throughout the contest. At one point I decided to lay back and wait for him to bet his bet money, then I hit six winners in a row. They don't call me "Bulldog" for nothing."

Earlier this year, the Oceanside, New York resident beat out 275 of the nation's top horseplayers for the $500,000 first-place prize and title of Handicapper of the Year in the $1 million Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship at Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas. Conte is a former New York Post handicapper whose "Grass is Greener" tout sheet is available at New York tracks and OTBs. He is also host of a regional OTB television show.

(With files from NJSEA)