by Paul Ramlow, USTA Internet News Manager

Lexington, KY — Shark Gesture was a 1:49.2 winner in the $10,000 Allerage Farms elimination for older pacers on Saturday (Oct. 3) at The Red Mile.

Owned by Norman and Gerald Smiley and the T L P Stable, the 6-year-old Cam’s Card Shark-Simple Gesture stallion, trained by Ray Remmen, won for the seventh time in 26 starts this year, with earnings of $907,695. Mister Big (Brian Sears) was second by a half-length while Art Official (Ron Pierce) was third.

The 11-horse field saw just one horse, Martha Maxine, eliminated as the ten survivors will advance to next Saturday’s final.

Lanson cruises in Red Mile Open

Royal Wire Products Inc.’s Lanson grabbed the lead heading to the opening quarter and went on to an easy 1:54 victory in a $5,000 Open Trot at The Red Mile.

Mike Lachance was in the bike for trainer Don Swick as the 5-year-old Self Possessed-M Stewart gelding posted his sixth victory in 17 season’s starts, lifting his 2009 earnings to $310,140.

Lanson went around ABC Mercedes (John Campbell) as the field hit the opening quarter in :29.1, then enjoyed comfortable middle fractions of :58.3 and 1:27.1. Turning for home, ABC Mercedes made a break, leaving Lanson all alone to cruise home in 1:54, with a final quarter of :26.4. Gift Kronos (Daniel Dube), who sat third throughout the mile, rallied to finish second. Favored Buck I St Pat (Tim Tetrick) was fifth throughout the mile and never got into contention before closing in the stretch to pick up the show dough.

Sharky Osborne cops Open Pace

Gary Minner and Peter Richardson’s Sharky Osborne went wire-to-wire to capture a $5,000 Open Pace in a time of 1:49.4, equaling his mark, set back in 2007 at Harrah’s Chester.

The victory was the fifth in nine 2009 starts for the 8-year-old Cam’s Card Shark-Shady Past gelding, who was driven to victory by Tim Tetrick for trainer Josh Green. He has banked $74,800 this year and $666,641 lifetime.

Starting from post five, Sharky Osborne was sent right to the top and was never headed through fractions of :26.3, :54, 1:22.2 and 1:49.4. Armbro Durable (George Brennan) was second and Reminic (Jim Morrill, Jr.) finished third.