Sears and Teague team to sweep Wilson elims

I’m Gorgeous split horses down the stretch and got up in the final strides to win the first of two $40,000 Woodrow Wilson Eliminations for two-year-old colt and gelding pacers Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

 

I’m Gorgeous [$3.00, $2.40, $2.10] and driver Brian Sears got away fifth out of the gate and waited until the stretch to pop the pocket and come home in a lifetime best of 1:50.4. Payne’s Landing [$12.60, $5.00] finished a length behind in second and Foreign Officer [$3.20] was third.

 

“Even though it was a short field I didn’t want to get away last,” Sears commented after the race. “We kind of floated out of there a little bit and, eventually dropped in there for a few steps. We ended up getting some live cover and he raced very well. He’s a very nice horse. He’s a racehorse, he knows when he’s out there and he knows what he’s supposed to be doing and he’s got the motor to do it.”

 

The son of Bettor’s Delight-Joy has won 4 of 5 lifetime starts for trainer and co-owner George Teague Jr. I’m Gorgeous was a $35,000 yearling purchase by Teague and Elmer Fannin of Lincoln, DE.

 

The team of driver Brian Sears and trainer George Teague Jr. also took the second Woodrow Wilson elimination with Windfall Blue Chip [$7.20, $3.80, $3.40] in a career best 1:51. Windfall Blue Chip moved to the lead right before the half and held off the rallies of Relaxed Fit [$5.60, $3.80] and Fashion Heart [$3.80] by three-quarters of a length. The son of Art Major-Beach Dancer was a $22,000 yearling purchase by Teague, Kovach Stables of Milford, DE and Ted Gewertz of New York, NY. Windfall Blue Chip is a perfect 3 for 3 in lifetime starts.

 

“He’s a big, good-looking colt,” Sears said. “He took a little breather going to the 3/4 pole but when I asked him, he responded well. They [Windfall Blue Chip and I’m Gorgeous] are both going to draw well [elim winners choose their starting posts]. I hope I pick the right one, that’s all. [George Teagure Jr.] will probably leave it up to me, so I can only blame myself if I pick the wrong one [to drive in the final].”

 

The top finishers in each elim advanced to the $455,000 Woodrow Wilson Final on closing night of the 2009 Harness Meet, Saturday, August 22. The Wilson, along with the $440,300 Sweetheart for fillies, shares the spotlight with $1.6 million in Breeders Crown events that evening.

 

Art’s Shadow, Shoobee’s Place, Lord Terror, and Jo Pa’s Fod also moved onto the Wilson final.

 

Western Moonlight drew off to a 2 3-4-length victory in the $20,000 Sweetheart elimination for two-year-old filly pacers.

 

Driver David Miller and Western Moonlight [$4.40, $2.80, $2.10] moved to the front right before the half and set off fractions of 56.1 and1:24.4 before coming home in 1:53. Lover of Art [$3.80, $2.60] rallied late for second, while Harley Girl [$2.80] was third. Western Moonlight has now won 3 of 5 lifetime starts for trainer Jim Campbell. The daughter of Western Hanover-Light Up was a $75,000 yearling purchase by Fashion Farms LLC.

 

“She seems to be coming along just right,” Miller said of the filly. “I raced her three times and she’s put in three good efforts. I took her off the pace last time and she raced well; she’s a little green still about maneuvering around horses. I thought if I could get her to the lead easily enough and get her the easiest trip I could, things would work out. We get to pick our post [in the final] which always helps, so hopefully next week will be good for us.” (Meadowlands)