Ron Burke took home the lion's share of the $25,000 purse as his trainees finished one-two-three in the opening round of the Four Leaf Clover Series on Saturday night at Meadowlands Racetrack
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Get It Now, driven by Brian Sears, swooped in late to best his pacesetting stablemate Code Word (Yannick Gingras) by a length and a quarter in 1:52.2. Windsong Gorgeous (Brandon Simpson), who was parked out the whole way, completed the all-Burke trifecta.
Get It Now, who was coupled with his stablemates in the wagering, paid $3.40 to win. He surpassed $150,000 in career earnings as he picked up his second win in seven starts this season. Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Panhellenic Stable Corporation and Phil Collura own the five-year-old son of Western Hanover-Grand Lady.
In Saturday's $32,000 Invitational Pace, the popular River Shark took control before the opening quarter and rebuffed a challenge from Mr Massimo (Ron Pierce) en route to victory in 1:50.3. Presidential Order (Brian Sears) rode the pocket to finish one length behind in second while Schoolkids (Pat Berry) rounded out the top three finishing four lengths back.
River Shark paid $4.40 to win. The five-year-old gelded son of Four Starzzz Shark-Riverview Diamond earned his second (consecutive) victory from six seasonal starts. The career winner of over $629,000 is trained by Mark Ford, who shares ownership with Vip Internet Stable LLC, Robert DiNozzi, and El Lobo LLC.
Coming off a third-place finish in the Aquarius Series Final, last year's Meadowlands Pace Consolation winner Foreign Officer ($5.20) front-stepped his way to a 1:51 victory in the $27,500 Preferred Pace for four-year-olds. Tim Tetrick drove the Western Ideal-Allamerican Coco gelding to his second victory in five seasonal starts for trainer Tony Alagna and owners David Rovine, JL Benson Stables Inc., Melvin Hartman, and Foreign Officer Partners.
For Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Meadowlands.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)