Pacesetter Risk Management managed to hold off the late closers and score his first win of the season in the $22,500 opening round of the Four Leaf Clover Series while capping off a three-win night at the Meadowlands Racetrack for trainer Ron Burke
. The series is for five-year-olds and under that are non-winners of six extended pari-mutuel races or $200,000 lifetime as of Dec. 10, 2011.
Starting from Post 8 for the third straight time, Risk Management seemed to get the hang of it and blasted to command for driver Yannick Gingras. He led the field past fractions of :26.4, :56.3, and 1:26.2 with his parked out entrymate Intrigued Royally (Brian Sears) looming to his outside and second over Fools Gold (Daryl Bier) coming on to challenge in the three-wide path, followed by third over I Wanna Go Fast (Chris Page). Risk Management was attacked from both sides down the stretch as the pocket-sitting Art Z (David Miller) slipped up the pylons, but the leading Western Hanover-Catch A Wish gelding managed all those risks with tact to pull off the 1:52.4 victory by a neck. Fools Gold, Art Z, and I Wanna Go Fast were separated by less than one length at the wire while Intrigued Royally, Touch The Rock (Brandon Simpson), and Boi (Andy Miller) followed less than two lengths behind.
Risk Management paid $13.60 to win for the first time in eight seasonal starts. The four-year-old pacer, who earned three second-place finishes while competing in the Complex and Exit 16W Series, nearly doubled his seasonal earnings to $25,650. He is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and JJK Stables LLC.
Burke's training triple also included wins by Breakin The Law ($4.20) and Tuneariffic ($6.20).
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Meadowlands Results.