Presidential to Hop Sing

It took "perfect Pierce piloting" and an explosive stretch surge for Hop Sing to capture the $106,680 Presidential Final on Saturday night at the Meadowlands in the stakes record time of 1:48.3.



Hop Sing, who paid $21.40 to win, evaded a breaking Shu Hanover, found room up the pylons and caught Rare Jewel for a 1 1/4-length tally. Casimir Camotion was third.



"We wound up in the three-hole; it was a pretty good trip," said Pierce, who won his fourth Presidential. "Dave's [Miller with Shu Hanover] horse made a bad break, I almost went over his wheel and came almost to a complete stop. We had plenty of racetrack and the rail opened up. He took off. He just exploded in the stretch."



When Shu Hanover, the 8-5 favorite, broke stride on the turn for home, Miller promptly moved the horse into the infield, preventing a pile up. Pierce snatched up Hop Sing to guide him around Shu Hanover and set him down again with an eighth of a mile to go. Hop Sing paced a final quarter in :27.2 to pass Rare Jewel, who had strung together fractions of :26, :53.1 and 1:20.4.



Hop Sing, trained by Ettore Annunziata, was claimed by his son, Richard Annunziata, for $125,000 on Dec. 3, 2005. The 5-year-old gelding by The Panderosa now has two wins in four starts this year for earnings of $80,840. His lifetime bankroll now stands at $295,984.



The winner's next big event is the Isle of Capri at Pompano Park.

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