from Meadowlands Publicity Department

East Rutherford, NJ — Shark Gesture [$20.40, $9.00, $4.00] worked hard to make the lead before the half and dug in gamely for a 1:48.2 victory in the $688,000 William R. Haughton Memorial for older pacers Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

Lisa Photo

Shark Gesture dug in gamely for a 1:48.2 win in the William R. Haughton Memorial.

Driven by Tim Tetrick, Shark Gesture assumed command in a swift 53.1 opening half and held off the late charge of Bettor Sweet [$6.20, $3.00] by 2/1-2 lengths. Shark Gesture has now won 18 of 56 starts and $1.5 million. After embarking on a brief stud career in 2008, he was brought back to the racetrack this season by trainer Larry Remmen. The 6-year-old horse is owned by Gerald Smiley of Quebec, Norman Smiley of Boca Raton, FL and TLP Stable of Kearny, NJ.

“He was pretty much parked the whole mile,” Tetrick said. “I just give him a lot of credit because I drive him pretty hard and he just keeps coming and coming. I was really happy when I saw Jody [Jamieson and Dali] first up and not Mister Big because whenever I look over my right shoulder and see Mister Big, I get the shivers. I know I’m in trouble when I see him first up and coming at me. Jody’s horse had a tough trip. Luckily, my horse held on and responded well in the lane. He’s just tougher than nails because I keep torturing him on the racetrack and he keeps getting better and better.”

Mister Big [$2.10], sent off the 4-5 favorite, remained far out of contention into the stretch and closed to finish third.

“I thought he could have at least been second,” said his driver, Brian Sears. “Third-over wasn’t a bad spot, but then it turned into fourth-over. Shark Gesture is tough in the lane; you have to give him some credit.”