Oliver Cleo came up a half length short in last month's Clyde Hirt Series final but there was no denying the 4-year-old son of Park Place in the $73,500 Art Unger final, the feature event on the Presidents' Day matinee card Monday at the Meadowlands. Driven by Brian Sears, Oliver Cleo swung wide off a third-over trip at the top of the stretch to go on to a career-best 1:50.3 victory, his fourth win in six starts since being purchased by trainer Peter Kleinhans in early December.
Early give and take for the lead between Harrah's Best, Golden Receiver and General Montgomery led to first-half fractions of :26.4 and :54.1, respectively. Sears, who had gotten away sixth early on with Oliver Cleo, had worked his way into the third-over position and shortly after the three-quarters was reached in 1:23, moved his charge wide. Oliver Cleo reached the wire 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Real Samart and driver Yannick Gingras, with Red Star Catch and George Brennan closing late for third.
Sent off the 6-5 favorite, Oliver Cleo had posted an impressive win as the 1-9 favorite in the opening round of the Unger Series on Feb. 1. Kleinhans elected to pass on the second leg with Oliver Cleo, who then drew post nine for Monday's final.
The race is named for longtime Meadowlands horseman Art Unger, who died a year ago March. A trainer for more than 40 years, Unger is most well known as the conditioner of Shadyside Trixie and Young Quinn, two of the leading pacers of the 1970s.
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