by Ken Weingartner for the Breeders Crown

TORONTO – Shark Gesture, one week removed from an accident that resulted in a broken leg for Hall of Fame driver John Campbell and the death of another horse, rebounded Saturday night to win the $610,000 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old male pacers at Woodbine Racetrack.

George Brennan put Shark Gesture on the lead going into the first turn, and except for a brief challenge from Dave Panlone around the final turn, was never out of the top spot. He held off the late charge of Mister Big, who finished second, to claim the title.

In last week’s elimination race, Shark Gesture fell as the field crossed the finish line after being interfered with by Total Truth. Tony Alagna, an assistant for the Ervin Miller Stable, got the colt ready for Saturday’s final.

“It was a really rough week,” Miller said. “To get him to come back was very special. Everybody was scared of the front end tonight because of the wind; but this big, old colt doesn’t care about the wind; he’s tough. He sure showed up tonight.”

The Breeders Crown field included North America Cup champ Total Truth, Meadowlands Pace winner Artistic Fella and 2005 2-year-old champ Jereme’s Jet.

Dave Panlone and Mister Big were elim winners last week.

“My horse raced real good, but there wasn’t enough early action for me,” said Brian Sears, who drove Dave Panlone and finished third. “My horse is definitely one that comes from off the pace. The half in 57 [seconds] was just giving it away and he got beat by better horses.”

Said Jody Jamieson, who drove Mister Big, “Second best is all right. They had him in top form. He got a little more air tonight than he did last week, and that certainly made a big difference. If I could have stayed behind live cover, that was the only shot I had to beat George [Brennan]. All in all, he raced great.”

Shark Gesture has won seven of 13 starts this year. He is owned by brothers Norm and Gerald Smiley.