St Elmo Hero extended his undefeated streak to 21 wins in his $20,000 first leg division of the Complex Series Saturday night at Meadowlands Racetrack
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St Elmo Hero and driver Tim Tetrick sat fourth through a swift :55.1 opening half and pounced from second over to best Windsong Gorgeous by a length and a half in 1:50.3. Thunders Fury tracked the winner to finish third.
"They were mixing it up early and I decided to settle him in and make my move later," Tetrick said. "Luckily, Brian [Sears and Windsong Gorgeous] pulled with his horse. I was able to follow him and my horse did the rest."
Illinois owner John Barnard claimed St Elmo Hero, an unraced four-year-old gelding, for $8,000 out of his first career start on July 14, 2010 at Balmoral Park. The son of Western Hero, trained by Charles Eustis III, now has earnings of $155,000.
McClelland was a well-rated winner in the first of the two Complex divisions. With David Miller at the lines, McClelland posted soft early fractions of :28.4, :57.2 and 1:26, before kicking home in :26.2 toward a 1:52.2 final clocking. Code Word closed from the pocket spot to finish second while Unicorn Hanover was third.
Ken Tucci of Wood Ridge, New Jersey and trainer Aaron Lambert claimed the five-year-old Cams Card Shark gelding for $25,000 on Nov. 22, 2010 at Yonkers Raceway. McClelland is a winner of nine career races, including two for his new connections.
Western Shore narrowly prevailed over Vlos in a 1:49 stunner in the second of two $50,000 Presidential Series divisions for free-for-all pacers on the card. Western Shore grabbed the lead out of the backstretch and made Vlos work hard to clear past him in a :53.2 half. They rolled through three quarters in 1:21.2 before Dube angled Western Shore out of the pocket to track down the leader. Dube dropped his whip on the move and had to seesaw in the sulky to urge Western Shore up by a nose.
Western Shore is making his third appearance in the Presidential Series after finishing second in the 2009 final and third in 2010. John Cancelliere of Clark, New Jersey purchased the eight-year-old son of Western Hanover for $212,000 at the 2009 Tattersalls January Mixed Sale. His brother, Tom Cancelliere, trains the millionaire pacer. To read more about the Cancelliere brothers and Western Shore, click here.
Real Celebration stopped Bettor Sweet by a neck to win the first Presidential division. Real Celebration worked his way up from seventh as Bettor Sweet and Presidential Order locked up in an early duel and maneuvered three-wide around the challenger Alexie Mattosie to close in the nick of time. Real Celebration, driven by Tim Tetrick, was clocked in a career best 1:49.2.
Don Campbell trains the six-year-old son of Real Artist for Joseph Davino of Clarksburg, New Jersey and Jeffrey Bamond of Brick, New Jersey.
To view Saturday's results, click here.
(Meadowlands Racetrack)