Matt's Scooter final to Mr Nice Guy in 1:52.1

Mr Nice Guy took command at the half and never looked back en route to a 3 3/4-length victory in the $84,000 Matt’s Scooter Final on Saturday night at the Meadowlands. 

Driven by Ron Pierce, Mr Nice Guy cleared the top in :55.4 and accelerated away from the field in the stretch.  He paced the mile in 1:52.1.  Runner-up Harley D Hanover made a brief bid, but was no match for the winner.  Anais Kicker was a distanced third.  Mr Nice Guy paid $3.60, $2.40 and $2.60.
 
“I just wanted the race to set up and then, soon as they started to come back to me, I made my move,” Pierce said.  “I could tell this colt had a lot of pace.  I wasn’t too concerned about [Harley D Hanover].  He still has a lot in his tank.”
 
Robert Scharf’s Between The Pipes Stable purchased Mr Nice Guy privately on February 28, 2008.  He was a $33,000 yearling purchase at the Lexington Selected Sale.  Mr Nice Guy improved his record to three wins in 20 starts and surpassed the $100,000 mark in earnings.  Nat Varty trains the 3-year-old son of Western Ideal. 
 
“I can’t really take credit for picking him out,” Scharf said.  “My friend [horse agent] Anthony Altomonte, who has been around [racing] for a long time, found the horse.  He had been following him a long time and told me I had to jump on it.  I am thankful I did.  Nat’s done a great job with him the last couple of weeks, and I am real happy about that.” 
 
Scharf’s father, Martin, is a longtime horseowner best known for campaigning 2000 Horse of the Year Gallo Blue Chip.
 
“My dad is a good advisor to me,” he noted.  “He’s been in this game a long time.  He’s been at the top.  It is nice to have his advice right there by my side and hopefully we keep going forward from here.” (Meadowlands)

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