from the Meadowlands publicity department

East Rutherford, NJ — Shark Gesture held on to win the $50,000 William R. Haughton Memorial Prep for free for all pacers on Friday night (August 13) at Meadowlands Racetrack.

Shark Gesture held off Won The West in a time of 1:49.

George Brennan guided Shark Gesture to victory in 1:49, holding off a late rally from Won The West. The 4-year-old son of Cam’s Card Shark-Simple Gesture has earned nearly $2.5 million lifetime for trainer Larry Remmen and owners Norman Smiley, Gerald Smiley and T L P Stable. His full brother, Shark Ingested, finished second in the Woodrow Wilson elimination earlier in the night. Shark Gesture paid $3.40 to win.

“There was a short field and we got lucky enough to get a soft half,” said Brennan. “Usually he’s getting down there in :53 and change but he really appreciated the :55 half tonight. 1:49 tonight is a good mile. It’s cool out, with a little wind coming at you in the top of the lane. I certainly did (want to keep Foiled Again boxed in). I don’t trust Foiled Again, he always gives a top effort and if he gets through there, he may go zooming by. I had to keep him in and I’m glad I had him where he was.”

The $702,500 William R. Haughton Memorial Final will be contested on closing night of the meet, Friday, August 20.

Powerful Mist won the Woodrow Wilson elimination in 1:51.4.

Eliminations for the Woodrow Wilson for 2-year-old colts and geldings and the Sweetheart final for 2-year-old fillies were also featured.

Under the guidance of Ron Pierce, Powerful Mist captured his second win in three starts in the $20,000 Woodrow Wilson elimination. The race went in 1:51.4. The 2-year-old colt was a $27,000 yearling purchase from the Winbak Select Yearling Sale in Maryland. The son of Powerful Toy-Misty Speed is owned by Legacy Racing, Niel Gargiulo and Louie Paglierani. Wayne Givens trains the colt.

Also advancing to the $473,000 final next Friday are Shark Ingested, Line Officer, Arockin Hanover, Mcsocks, On The Radar and Roll’em Up who finished in the top seven, respectively. Fashion Delight, Grams Legacy and Rollwithitharry earned byes into the final.

Lisa photos

Shyaway scored in 1:52.3 in the Sweetheart elimination.

In the $20,000 Sweetheart elimination, Shyaway paced to victory in 1:52.3, with Brian Sears in the sulky, to advance to the $402,400 Final next week. The daughter of Artscape-Armbro Berlin is now two for three lifetime for trainer Chris Ryder. She was a $20,000 yearling purchase from the Lexington Selected Sale for owner Brittany Farms.

The first eight finishers advancing to the final with Shyaway are Ladystar, Honky Tonk Woman, Mothermayi Hanover, Rocklamation, Myluvmylife, Ms Malicious and Cndiana Jones. Show And Tell and Ace of Pace will join the top eight finishers after receiving byes into the final.