First-time starters win big

Annie Duke, a longshot and a first time starter, hugged the pylons until the final sixteenth of a mile and split horses to take the lead and a 1:54.2 victory in the first of two $12,500 divisions of the Tender Loving Care Series Wednesday night at the Meadowlands.



Annie Duke, driven by Mike Lachance and trained by Tom Fanning, finished a neck ahead of the 4-5 favorite Pacific Philly. Gro was third.



Annie Duke, a daughter of Cam's Card Shark, shares her name with one of the preeminent professional poker players in the country. Owner James R. Switlyk of Berkeley Heights, N.J., purchased the pacing filly as a yearling for $41,000 at the New Jersey Classic Sale, where she sold as Last Trick Hanover.



Another first time starter, Future Destiny, was a 2-1/2 length winner over Campanellino in 1:53.4 for trainer George Teague Jr. and driver Ron Pierce.



Teague co-owns the Artiscape filly, a $10,000 Tattersalls yearling purchase, in partnership with his sister, Brenda, and K&R Racing of Houston, Del.



The top 10 money earners in the Tender Loving Care Series for 3-year-old pacing fillies return for a $64,000 final on Feb. 24.--Meadowlands press release

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