After a series of lead changes, River Shark prevailed in the $22,500 opening leg of the Robert Suslow Stake for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Saturday night at the Meadowlands Racetrack

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Nittany Linebacker (Tim Tetrick) settled on top after taking a few rough steps when forced wide around the first turn. He put up a :27.1 opening quarter before River Shark with Daniel Dube in the bike pulled the pocket and claimed the lead. River Shark, the 9-5 second choice, kept his front-end appearance short though as Pangiorno (Ron Pierce) charged to command at the half in :56.4. Hot on his heels was Glad To Be Back (George Brennan), who surged to the top and led the field past three-quarters in 1:23.3. Meanwhile, River Shark, who was shuffled back to third moved into action and used a :28 final frame to win in 1:52.1 by a length and a half.

Glad To Be Back stayed for second and OK Braveheart (John Campbell) closed well for third.

David Sabatelli trains the son of Four Starzzz Shark and shares ownership with Aaron Waxman of Brantford, Ont. and Carmine Fusco of Duryea, Pennsylvania. River Shark, who was the runner-up in each leg of the Matt’s Scooter series, scored his first win of the season and third of his career pushing his earnings to nearly $65,000.

The second leg of the Robert Suslow series is set for next Saturday, April 11 with the $70,000 final scheduled for April 18.

In the weekly $31,500 Invitational Pace, Shark Gesture made a short first-over journey and pulled off victory against his five foes.

Montecito N (George Brennan) led the field to the opening quarter in :26.1 as Shark Gesture and driver Tim Tetrick tucked in third behind Its That Time (Daniel Dube). The parked Race Track Ruler (John Campbell) made a break during the second quarter and pulled up leaving only three other rivals for Shark Gesture to take on.

Refusing to sit a pocket trip, Its That Time revved his engine and advanced to the lead before the :55.2 half-mile marker. That one rolled to three-quarters in 1:24.1 as Shark Gesture launched his challenge providing the favoured Maltese Artist (Brian Sears) with cover. Shark Gesture, who was sent postward as the longest shot on the board at 6-1, defied the odds and charged home in :26.3 beating Maltese Artist by a neck for the win in 1:50.4.

Montecito N finished third as Its That Time faded to fourth.

Shark Gesture, a son of Cams Card Shark, sports a record of 2-4-0 in 12 starts this year with $61,950 earned. The six-year-old millionare is trained by Larry Remmen for Norman Smiley of Boca Raton, Florida, Gerald Smiley of Cote Saint-Luc, Que., and the T L P Stable of Kearny, New Jersey.

Meadowlands Pick Six Pays Record $193,000

After 10 consecutive carryovers, the Meadowlands Pick Six was finally hit Saturday, April 4 with a record $193,384 payout.

The $426,135 carryover attracted a record additional $902,032 in wagering on the Saturday Pick Six. There were five winning tickets, of which two were sold at the Meadowlands, one at Freehold and two at out-of-state locations. The winning Pick Six sequence was: (2) Robertthebruce [$5.80], (2) Shark Gesture [$15.80], (9) All Shuttle [$5.20], (1) First Impression [$7.60], (8) Village Blast [$28.60] and (4) Speed Professor [$17.40]. The consolation payout for five out of six winners was $521.40.

The Pick Six is a $1 base wager held nightly on races four through nine. The previous record Pick 6 payoff at the Meadowlands came in February 2007, when one winner took down the entire $131,071 pool.

To view Saturday’s results, click here.

(With files from NJSEA)