Shark Gesture worked hard to make the lead before the half and dug in gamely for a 1:48.2 victory in the $688,000 William R. Haughton Memorial for older pacers Saturday night at The Meadowlands
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Driven by Tim Tetrick, Shark Gesture assumed command in a swift :53.1 opening half and held off the late charge of Bettor Sweet. Mister Big, sent off the 4-5 favourite, remained far out of contention into the stretch and closed to finish third.
"He was pretty much parked the whole mile," Tetrick said. "I just give him a lot of credit because I drive him pretty hard and he just keeps coming and coming. I was really happy when I saw Jody [Jamieson and Dali] first up and not Mister Big because whenever I look over my right shoulder and see Mister Big, I get the shivers. I know I'm in trouble when I see him first up and coming at me. Jody's horse had a tough trip. Luckily, my horse held on and responded well in the lane. He's just tougher than nails because I keep torturing him on the racetrack and he keeps getting better and better."
Shark Gesture has now won 18 of 56 starts and $1,548,779. After embarking on a brief stud career in 2008, he was brought back to the racetrack this season by trainer Larry Remmen. The six-year-old horse is owned by Gerald Smiley of Cote-Saint-Luc, QC, Norman Smiley of Boca Raton, FL and TLP Stable of Kearny, NJ.
(With files from The Meadowlands)
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click here.