Boulder Creek emerged from the fog and the photo finish as the winner of the $24,000 Preferred Pace while Brian Sears scored five wins on the card including one in the co-featured $22,000 Preferred 2 Pace with Hennessy Hanover on Saturday night at the Meadowlands Racetrack.
Boulder Creek, the eight-year-old son Pacific Rocket, and driver Daniel Dube got away third as Noble Falcon (Brian Sears) hustled off the gate and led the field past the first quarter in :27.1. Winbak Speed (Ron Pierce) made an appearance on the front at the half in :55, but Boulder Creek quickly took over pulling away by two lengths before three-quarters in 1:23.2. The winner of 41 races held off a quick-closing Winbak Speed for the win by a nose in 1:50.4. Soul Chaser (David Miller) finished third.
Making his third start from the Mark Kesmodel barn, Boulder Creek picked up his second win. Larry Baron of Horsham, Pennsylvania owns the veteran gelding, who has earned $3,770,254 in his career.
Hennessy Hanover and driver Brian Sears prevailed in the second Preferred event in 1:50 for trainer Kevin McDermott and owner Francis Azur of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania.
The four-year-old gelded son of Dragon Again settled in fifth as Toucam Sam (Daniel Dube) led the way past the first quarter in :26.1 and the half in :53.4. En route to the 1:21.4 third quarter station, Hennessy Hanover began to advance on the outside. The winner of 11 races and $184,847 in purses took the lead in the stretch and pulled away by one and a quarter length as the pacesetter began to fade.
Pandoras Sox (Andy Miller) finished second and Super Eighty Eight (Pat Lachance) was third.
With five wins on the card, Sears secured his ninth straight driving title at the Big M.
Sears and David Miller were tied at 34 wins apiece entering Saturday's card. Sears pulled ahead with two early wins but was matched by Miller in races seven and eight. Miller looked to regain the lead in the eleventh race with favourite Winfall Nasty, but his charge was not up to the task, leaving Sears to fire off an end-of card hat trick and secure the Meadowlands Holiday Harness Meet driving title. Sears finished the Nov. 21 - Dec. 27 meet with 39 wins to Miller's 36.
The race for the trainer's title also came down to the final card of the year. Mark Kesmodel sent out two winners, pushing past Ross Croghan for end-of-meet honors with 11 wins to Croghan's 10. Larry Baron claimed the leading owner title with seven wins for the meet.
Click here to view Saturday’s results.
(With files from NJSEA)
Congratulations Mr Baron. My
Congratulations Mr Baron. My husband, Barry & I, bred Hayser & foaled Boulder.We are thrilled to watch his continued success.