by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — Trainer Rich Gillock is sending two horses to Thursday’s (Feb. 2) opening rounds of the Tender Loving Care and Junior Trendsetter series at Meadowlands Racetrack, hoping to learn more about his unproven prospects and their potential for a summer of stakes action.

Gillock’s horses, Sharkteen in the Junior Trendsetter for 3-year-old male pacers and Perfect Pose in the Tender Loving Care for 3-year-old filly pacers, hail from the stable of owner/breeder Bob Key. Gillock, who is based in western Pennsylvania, will turn the horses over to trainer Don Niccum in New Jersey.

“They’re both young, green horses that didn’t race much last year,” Gillock said. “We’re hoping to come up and do some good early on, but as usual it looks like there are some good fillies and colts in those races. They’ll have their work cut out for them, that’s for sure.”

Sharkteen drew post nine in the third of three $12,500 Junior Trendsetter divisions. Tim Tetrick is listed to drive the colt, which has one win and two second-place finishes in three starts this year.

Last season, Sharkteen lost his first five races, going off stride in three, before heading to the Pennsylvania fairs to pick up his first victory. He finished the campaign with one win in eight starts.

“He was just a little immature,” Gillock said. “I raced him in a fair or two and it kind of got him on the right path. We stopped with him and this year so far has been pretty good. He’s a little aggressive, but up there on the big track (at the Meadowlands) I’m sure he’ll be fine as far as racing any way we’ve got to race him. He has some gate speed.”

Sharkteen is a son of Four Starzzz Shark, out of the mare La La Tina. His second and third dams, My Patina and Valentina, were stakes winners.

“We thought enough of him to give him the opportunities to be a better colt,” Gillock said. “Is he a top-notch one? I don’t know about that. Right at this point in time, he’s pretty much done what we’ve asked him to do and he’s been a pretty sound colt. That’s all you can ask for at this point.

“Mr. Key believes in staking them. He’ll have a pretty good schedule if he continues to do well and shows more potential. He’s definitely nominated to a lot.”

Perfect Pose is in the first of two $12,500 Tender Loving Care divisions. She drew post seven, with Ron Pierce listed to drive. She has won two of four career races, with one second and one third. She did not begin racing until December.

“I really like that filly,” Gillock said. “(Trainer) Dan Ater had her last year and she had a few issues that he took good care of. She comes out of a good family; she’s got a little pedigree to step up.”

Perfect Pose is a daughter of The Panderosa, out of the mare Ladys Portrait. She is a full sister to Picture Me ($129,588; 1:52.1f) and her third dam is 1984 Breeders Crown winner Amneris.

“We don’t want to over-race them at this point,” Gillock said. “We’ll race her in the series and bring her back here and give her a little time off. We want to see exactly what we have. She’ll get her chance up there to show us if she’s going to be good enough to stake.

“So far she’s been a pretty good filly for us as far as doing what we’ve asked her to do. She’s another one that likes to get out and get position, and a lot of times that can win you the race. She does that well.”

The $75,000 Junior Trendsetter final is scheduled for Feb. 18 and the $60,000 Tender Loving Care final is Feb. 17.

“We need a little luck up there,” Gillock said. “We’ve got some real good drivers. They’ll put them in the right spots and we’ll see what happens.”