After clocking the fastest mile of the year in last week’s $31,500 Invitational Pace, Maltese Artist returned to victory lane in this Saturday’s edition at the Meadowlands Racetrack

.

The eight-year-old gelding, who was driven to victory by Brian Sears, settled in third from the inside post as Winbak Speed (Ron Pierce) overtook Four Starz Sue (Tim Tetrick) by the first quarter in :27.1. Winbak Speed led the field past the half in :55.3 before Maltese Artist moved to the outside and launched his attack. The 1-2 favourite took command en route to three-quarters in 1:23.3 then sealed the deal with a :26.3 final quarter. He prevailed by a length and a half in 1:50.1.

Winbak Speed finished second but a break at the third quarter station placed him back to fourth after he caused interference to Four Starz Sue and longshot Super Eighty Eight (John Campbell), who were subsequently bumped up to the number two and three positions.

Ron Burke trains and owns the son of Artiscape with James Koran of Macedonia, Ohio. The bay’s fourth seasonal score pushed his 2009 earnings over the $100,000 mark. Maltese Artist, a double millionare, notched his 38th lifetime score tonight.

In other action, Mark Kesmodel opened the card with another training triple sweeping the first three races. Wynnfield Flash prevailed in a career-best 1:51 in rein to Daniel Dube then Yannick Gingras jumped in the bike and sent Fifth Wave (1:50.3) to victory lane in the second race. The third win for Kesmodel came when Line Of Fire N (1:51.3) prevailed in Race 3 with Dube.

Dube then added one more victory to Kesmodel's tally in Race 10 with Its That Time (1:50.2).

To view Saturday's results, click here.