Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

At The Meadowlands Saturday Night
Pacinello Scores Second Series Crown in Exit 16W;
BG's Folly, River Shark Also Victorious

February 20, 2010

Pacinello picked up his second series crown with a front-end victory in the $88,000 Exit 16 W, one of three stakes finals contested Saturday night at Meadowlands Racetrack.

Pacinello, with Tim Tetrick in the sulky, seized command from Majestic Jackpot past the opening turn and never looked back en route to a career best 1:50.2 victory.

"I was outside looking over and saw we weren't going a whole lot out of the starting gate," Tetrick said. "I was going to get behind Brian [Sears and In Over My Head], but then we'd be fourth-over, which wasn't good. So, I thought I'd go to the front. My horse felt really good. I looked over going into the last turn and there was no one who was coming at me."

Pacinello rallied from far back to win the $90,000 Complex Final on January 23 at Meadowlands Racetrack. The son of Little Steven was the star of his class in the California Sire Stakes last season for father-and-son Rick and Luke Plano. He is racing under the care of trainer Jim Doherty at the Meadowlands. Bred and owned by D&E Racing of Las Vegas, NV, the pacer has now won 18 of 37 career starts and $221,420.

BG's Folly and driver Ron Pierce romped to a 1:51.3.victory in the $75,000 Junior Trendsetter Final for 3-year-old pacers.

"The first time I raced the colt, I knew he was this good" Pierce said. "He's still green, still learning. As you can see, he still does little baby things out there. He's really slick-gaited."

George Berkner trains BG's Folly, while his wife, Virginia, co-owns the 3-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover with Chad Aaron of Morgansville, NJ, Martin Goldman of North Caldwell, NJ and William Salmeri of Albany, NY. BG's Folly has now won two of six career starts and $50,045.

River Shark won the $80,000 Aquarius Final for 4-year-old open pacers for driver Daniel Dube in 1:50.3.

"It worked out well," Dube said. "We got a two-hole trip and when another one made a break [Drop Red, who was third-over behind Go Go Solano] I could get out. I didn't want to take a chance and get locked in with him and he responded well."

River Shark is now two-for-two this season. He swept the Robert J. Suslow Series and won an elimination race for the Berry's Creek during his 3-year-old campaign last year at the Meadowlands. He ended his sophomore season with a slate of six wins, five seconds and four thirds and $326,078 in earnings.

The son of Four Starzzz Shark was originally a $9,000 yearling purchase by Aaron Waxman and trainers Dave Sabatelli and Carmine Fusco. VIP Internet Stable and El Lobo own the pacer.