from the Meadowlands Media Relations Department

East Rutherford, NJ — St Elmo Hero, who is undefeated in 22 career starts, looks to keep his streak alive in the $65,000 Complex Series Final on Saturday night (Jan. 29) at Meadowlands Racetrack.

Lisa photo

St Elmo Hero looks to extend his winning streak to 23 on Saturday in the Complex Series Final.

Rated as the prohibitive 1-2 favorite in the field, St Elmo Hero will start from post five for driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Charles Eustis III. The 5-year-old son of Western Hero has been perfect since winning his career debut on July 14, 2010 at Balmoral Park.

Owner John Barnard of Orland Park, Ill., claimed St Elmo Hero out of that start for a scant $8,000. Since then, he has earned $165,000 while winning races in Illinois, Indiana and Pennsylvania en route to a three-race skein at the Meadowlands.

“He surprises the heck out of me,” Tetrick said. “He’s been awfully consistent. I only pulled the plugs on him one time, in the Blue Route Final at Chester. He went a big mile in 1:50.1 that day (Dec. 20, 2010). The next fastest mile that day was in 1:51.4. I think he can compete a long ways. He drives like a car and right now he’s got the speed, too.

“In the first leg of the Complex, he raced really good from off the pace, so he is versatile,” he added. “He can leave (the gate) or I can duck (into a hole) with him. He can do anything I want.”

Tetrick takes the pressure of keeping the pacer’s streak alive in stride.

“He’s going to get beaten at some time,” he said. “They all do. You don’t want to hurt him (in a race) because he’s got a lot of money to make the rest of the season, but you don’t want to put him in a spot where he’ll get beat either. So, you’ve got to race him (aggressively).”