After a rare defeat in the Golden Girls at this distance on Meadowlands Pace night, Shartin N bounced back to reclaim her throne as the queen of the older pacing ranks with a sharp score in the $197,400 Lady Liberty to close out the stakes action on Hambletonian Day.
A stacked field of 12 older pacing mares went postward in the 1-1/8 mile Lady Liberty, with Shartin N using her rail spot to gain early forward-placed position. Driver Tim Tetrick allowed Caviart Ally (Andy McCarthy) and Call Me Queen Be (Scott Zeron) to take turns on the lead through a :26.4 opener before clearing to command. Shartin set the fractions from there, a 54.3 half and 1:22 third panel. Second over Blue Moon Stride (Corey callahan) tipped three-wide around cover to test the leader as the mile flashed up in 1:50 but Shartin N had enough gas left to withstand all challengers for the win, hitting the wire in 2:04.1. Pure Country (Brian Sears) closed well for second with Blue Moon Stride staying to show.
The richest pacer in North America so far this season, five-year-old Shartin N (Tintin In America - Bagdarin) is trained by Jim King for wife Joann Looney King of Harrington, Dela. and Richard Poillucci of North Easton, Mass. In 17 seasonal starts, Shartin N Sports 13 wins with $733,542 in earnings.
Be sure to check out the rest of the coverage from Hambletonian Day in the 2018 Hambletonian Day News Centre.