by Tim Jones, USTA Newsroom correspondent

Shark Gesture was struggling in the turns of the 2006 Breeders Crown 3-year-old colt pace elimination at Woodbine, but pacing very strongly and gaining back momentum in the straight-a-ways. Trainer Erv Miller, watching trackside, was contemplating what equipment changes he might have to make in order to give the big colt a better shot in the final. Then Miller’s heart leapt into his throat as the big colt slammed to the track at the finish line in an accident that resulted in a broken leg for John Campbell, and resulted in another horse, Scootin Delight, being euthanized.

“Shark Gesture came into the Crown elim in great shape,” said Miller. “I was concerned because of the short turns on the seven-eighths track, but the way he trained prior to that race I felt we’d have no problem making the final. It was an extremely bad experience when he slammed to the track at the finish. Prior to that, I thought all that would be required would be some minor equipment adjustments and he’d be good to go for the final. The accident changed the entire following week for us.

Tim Jones photo

Shark Gesture in the stretch at The Red Mile during the 2006 Tattersalls Pace.

Tony Alagna, my assistant trainer, and caretaker Brooke Pollard did a great job with the horse the following week. They really stayed with it caring for his abrasions and bruises.

We were even kidding each other about the fact that the horse seemed more sound following the accident than he was before it. We thought it was ironically funny about how falling and skinning those knees made him seem more sound. When I warmed him up the night of the final, I thought he would be really good.”

The Cam’s Card Shark colt piloted by George Brennan led through almost every call on the way to the Breeders Crown final triumph. Dave Panlone stuck a head in front, although parked, through the 26.4 third panel, but at the wire Shark Gesture was in front by a length and a half over Mr. Big in 1:52.1.

“The horse showed what kind of intestinal fortitude he had by coming back and racing in the final the way he did,” understated Miller.

2006 seemed to be a year in the three-year-old colt pacing ranks with plenty of talent, and for the most part, evenly matched. Total Truth was great in the beginning of the year in the North America Cup, and also late in the year in the Messenger, respectively. Jereme’s Jet raced competitively, but was unable to repeat his freshman season success. Artistic Fella was a tour de force at The Meadowlands. Cactus Creek, another Miller trainee, captured the Adios. And then there was the performance of Mr. Feelgood in straight-heat wins of the Little Brown Jug for trainer Jimmy Takter. Erv Miller thought that compared to any of the other three-year-olds on a mile track, Shark Gesture was just as good as any of them.

Miller also describes Shark Gesture’s season as one, that because of the colt’s tall, lengthy physical stature, he needed to become accustomed to his physical attributes to realize his full potential. He likens the colt to an immature teen-ager that has the body of a grown up, but also the awkwardness that accompanies it.

“Shark Gesture just seemed to go through the motions at times. He’s like a big child that doesn’t realize his ability. He’s a really tall horse, but also pretty thin. We were always trying to get weight on him.

In The Meadowlands Pace, he wasn’t quite ready yet to go with that caliber of horses. I think he would have been more competitive if he was a little more seasoned. I thought, perhaps, we were hustling him a little too much for that race.

But then in the Tattersalls Pace in October at The Red Mile; that track just seemed to suit him extremely well. We had taken him there earlier in the year for the Simpson and some other races to get him going again in the right direction. It seemed to me as though it took a little out of him racing at The Meadowlands.

But he really appeared to blossom at Lexington. He kept getting better and better.”

The pairing with driver George Brennan also seemed to fit the colt quite well. Brennan drove him during his freshman campaign, and the two seemed to click so well together that Miller perceived it as a no-brainer to pair the two again for the following season.

“Shark Gesture is a one driver horse, and George seemed to get along with him so well. Brian Sears drove him in the Breeders Crown elimination just because George felt obligated to another stable’s horse. But I can attribute a lot of Shark Gesture’s success to how well he and George got along.”

Miller also relates that the big horse has been training extremely well at Southern Oaks training facility in Florida over the winter. April is the tentative month when Shark Gesture may once again step competitively onto the racetrack.

“Shark Gesture is probably the most changed horse we’ve brought back this year. Funny thing is, we all thought it was Lis Mara’s twin we were bringing back because of the way he had filled out. And Lis Mara is a great looking horse. I couldn’t believe how much weight he’d put on compared to last year. He was so tall and lengthy then, but now he looks big and strong.

He couldn’t get around a half last year because of his height and body length. I don’t believe that will be a problem this year.

He’s a little sounder and a lot more mature, so we’ll just have to see how he comes along.

We’ll bring him back some time in April and he’ll race a similar schedule to Lis Mara’s. I’ll have the same fun with those two racing against one another as I did with Loyal Opposition and Restive Hanover.

There will also be some 4-year-old Opens Shark Gesture will be in. We did the same thing with Lis Mara last year. The 4-year-old Opens are what we would like to season him with early.”

With stalwarts such as Shark Gesture and Lis Mara, Miller’s season never really ends. He just reloads.