Final Presidential primaries held

Western Shore paced the fastest mile of the meet so far with a 1:49 stunner in the $50,000 second round of the Presidential Series on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

 

Alllamerican Idol and Southwestern Dream were first to the front before Western Shore crossed over to take the lead in a :54.2 half. Driver George Brennan and Western Shore opened up their lead as they reached the third-quarter marker in 1:21.4 and kicked away in the stretch to a 5 3/4-length victory. Winbak Speed came first-up to finish second, while Southwestern Dream held on for third. Western Shore paid $3.40 to win the third race Presidential division.

 

Brothers Thomas and John Cancelliere purchased Western Shore for $212,000 at Tattersalls' 2009 January Select Mixed Sale. The son of Western Hanover has earned back $165,000 of that investment so far. The 7-year-old pacer sports career totals of 20 wins in 92 starts and earnings of $846,850. He finished second to Winbak Speed in the 2009 Presidential final.

 

Jeremy's Successor popped out of the two hole and surged past Blatantly Good to win the second Presidential split in 1:50.2 with Tyler Buter in the sulky. Share The Delight was four lengths behind in third.

 

Andrea Hill's Jeremy's Successor paid $6.80 to win the night's 10th race. Trained by Dean Eckley, the 6-year-old son of Mach Three improved his record to 15 wins in 58 career starts.

 

It was the second victory at the Meadowlands for 24-year-old Chicago reinsman Tyler Buter. The runner-up in the driver standings at Balmoral and Maywood last year, Buter made his first Meadowlands stakes appearance in 2008 when he guided eventual Meadowlands Pace winner Art Official to a fourth place finish in the Berry's Creek final. Ron Pierce later picked up the drive on Art Official and they defeated Horse of the Year Somebeachsomewhere in a 1:47 world record in the Pace.

 

Western Shore, Jeremy's Successor and Blatantly Good lead the list of contenders for the $117,000 Presidential final, the first major stakes race of the season for free for all pacers, on Saturday, Jan. 23. One of five series finals to be contested next week at Meadowlands Racetrack, it shares the spotlight with the $90,000 Clyde Hirt and $90,000 Complex for conditioned pacers. The stakes action kicks off with the $79,000 Super Bowl final for trotters on Wednesday, Jan. 20 and $53,000 White Ruffles for pacing mares on Thursday, Jan. 21. (Meadowlands)