Tim Tetrick made his first start since undergoing hip replacement surgery in the $35,000 Fillies & Mares Invitational Pace Saturday night at the Meadowlands
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Tetrick was in the sulky behind Enhance The Night, who finished a distanced fourth after coming first up against the leader and eventual winner, O'Brien Award finalist Chancey Lady (1:51), driven by Daniel Dube.
"It feels really good to be back," Tetrick said after the race. "I wish I could have raced a little better though. In the next few weeks I'm going to start out slowly, try not to over do it and see how it goes."
Tetrick, harness racing's leading driver in 2008 with a record $19.7 million, had his right hip replaced Dec. 8 at Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. The 27-year-old reinsman has suffered from a degenerative hip condition since childhood and will undergo the same surgery on his left hip next December.
Tetrick has three drives scheduled Sunday afternoon in Races 5, 6 and 9. Post time for the matinee card is 1:10 p.m.
In stakes action, Winbak Speed extended his streak to three wins in the $50,000 second round of the Presidential Series for free for all pacers Saturday night at the Meadowlands.
Driven by Ron Pierce, Winbak Speed seized command on the opening turn and held off the late rally of Boulder Creek (Daniel Dube) to win the fifth race Presidential division by a length in 1:51.2. Beau Rivage (Eric Goodell) finished two lengths behind in third. Winbak Speed paid $3.20 to win the featured fifth race.
"I looked to my left, no one was leaving," Pierce said. "I looked to my right and no one was leaving, so I decided to go. He just floated down the backstretch. He was very relaxed. Around the last turn, I just let everyone catch up to me. I didn't have to chase him at all. I was trying to save some for the final next week."
The six-year-old pacer was a $30,000 claim by Delaware-based trainer Wayne Givens and Niel Gargiulo nearly one year ago at Dover Downs. The son of Village Jove was originally a $15,000 SUNY Morrisville yearling purchase. Winbak Speed hit the board in 17 of 30 starts in 2008, winning seven races and $173,080. He is a perfect three-for-three in 2009.
Its That Time, with Dan Dube in the sulky, got up in the final strides to win the second Presidential division in 1:51. Soul Chaser (David Miller) and Western Shore (George Brennan) were a close second and third, respectively.
Its That Time posted his first win in three starts this season. Mark Kesmodel trains the four-year-old son of Real Artist for Bulletproof Enterprises of Boca Raton, Florida.
The three-week Presidential Series culminates in a $125,000 final on Saturday, January 24.
To view tonight’s results, click here.
(With files from NJSEA)