Trainer Ron Burke and driver Brian Sears teamed to win two of the three series finals contested Saturday night at Meadowlands Racetrack
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Im Feelin Good ($19.60) picked an opportune time to break his maiden as he won the $68,000 Junior Trendsetter in his first start for the Burke barn. Sears and Im Feelin Good sat third the whole way and exploded through an opening in the lane to best Joe Palz by one and three-quarter lengths in 1:54.4. Dapper Denzil held third after cutting the fractions.
Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Howard Taylor purchased into Im Feelin Good earlier this week, joining original owner Ron Mersky. The three-year-old son of Mr Feelgood-Imthegotogirl upped his bankroll to $68,325 with his Junior Trendsetter win.
Meirs Hanover ($3.80) scored his second series title this season for Burke and Sears in the $64,200 Exit 16W final. Meirs Hanover seized command past the half and kicked away to a three-quarter-length victory over the pocket-sitter Summer Camp in 1:51. His stablemate No Monkeys Allowed held third.
"Yannick [Gingras and No Monkeys Allowed] was pushing out of there pretty hard and got the two-hole," Sears said. "I didn't know exactly what I was going to do, but I had to come early and use my horse hard. The horse races great every week and was great again tonight."
Meirs Hanover has won four of six starts this season, including the $62,600 Clyde Hirt final on January 29. The four-year-old son of Artsplace-Mary Mattgalane is campaigned by David Van Dusen, Micahel Cimaglio and Strollin Stable, all of Ohio.
Border Fighting ($9) came on to win the $15,000 Junior Trendsetter consolation in a career-best 1:53.1 over favourite Mcsocks for Burke and Sears as well.
It has been a lucrative weekend for Burke and Sears, who also won the $49,000 Tender Loving Care final Friday night with Some Girls Do.
Allthatgltrsisgold ($6) pounced off a perfect second over trip to win the $78,000 Aquarius. Driven by Ron Pierce, Allthatgltrisgold slingshot past his cover Code Word in the stretch and drew off to a three-length tally in 1:51.2. Foreign Officer edged Whiskey Pete for third.
"He showed a lot of ability as a two-year-old, but he needed some management to control him and race him off the pace like this," noted Indiana-based trainer Bobby Brower, who sent the pacer to Ray and Larry Remmen for his winter stakes campaign at the Meadowlands. "We taught him how, he responded very well and it looks like he is turning into the horse we thought he was going to be. He had a very good [three-year-old] season and made a lot of money. He wasn't one of the best, but he was a Class B horse that picked up a lot of money.
"He is getting on the truck Monday and going back to Indiana," Brower continued. "We'll start prepping him for the Dan Patch and hopefully send him back to Ray in August for the big free for all races."
Now three for four this season, Allthatgltrsisgold earned more than $424,000 in 2010 while racing in a three-year-old division dominated by Horse of the Year front-runner Rock N Roll Heaven. Veterinarians Jeff and Maria King, who operate Victory Hill Farm in Langrange, Indiana, bred and own the son of Cams Card Shark-Glitter N Glitz.
For results from Saturday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Meadowlands Racetrack.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)