Shark Gesture snags second Haughton

Shark Gesture won his second straight William Haughton Memorial at the Meadowlands, taking the 2010 edition, worth $702,500, Friday night with an off-the-pace rally that put him at the wire first in 1:48.2.

 

George Brennan was in his usual spot in the sulky behind Shark Gesture and tucked him fourth at the pylons as Real Joke (Tim Tetrick) and Mr. Wiggles (Andy Miller) battled to to the first quarter in :25.4. Mr. Wiggles paced bravely on the outside to the half in :52.3, which effectively blocked the outer tier from advancing.

 

Brennan had slipped into the outer tier and when Real Joke hit the homestretch (after passing the three-quarter mark in 1:20.3).Mr. Wiggles stayed game until the top of the stretch, and at that point Brennan gave Shark Gesture a clear lane and the stallion began his customary march to the wire, digging in with the kind of tenacity that has become his trademark. He edged clear, with Hypnotic Blue Chip getting up for second and Won The West taking third with his wide and late rally for David Miller.

 

Shark Gesture now has seven wins in 10 starts this year for owners Norm and Gerald Smiley and Tom and Louis Pontone's TLP Stable. Larry  and Ray Remmen train the 7-year-old Cam's Card Shark stallion whose 2010 earnings now top $900,000, giving him a career bank account of almost $2.8 million.

 

"He's been tough since we brought him back," winning co-owner Tom Pontone said. "It was Norm's decision to bring him back, and he's just been tremendous horse. Every week, it's doesn't matter if he wins or not, he gives you a thousand percent."