Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Tetrick Steers Southwind Lynx to win Meadowlands Pace

July 14, 2007

Driver Tim Tetrick steered Southwind Lynx to a 1:49.1 clocking in the $1 Million Meadowlands Pace Saturday night at The Meadowlands. Trained by George Teague Jr, the bay 3-year-old son of Real Artist notched his third win of the year in six tries for owners K&R Racing LLC & Teague Inc., of Delaware.

Southwind Lynx had captured the $1 million Art Rooney Pace at Yonkers on June 2, with Tetrick at the lines--making him the youngest driver to win two million events in the same year.

Entering the stretch, Tetrick and Southwind Lynx were seventh, buried along the pylons, until Running Book drifted out and opened up a path for them. Tetrick rocketed up the inside to score a one and a half-length victory over Tell All in 1:49.1. Artriverderci rallied off a third-over trip to finish another quarter length behind them in third.

"At the early part of it, I thought I was screwed," Tetrick said. "I got pushed down on the rail and I thought it was hopeless and I'd never get out. I just kept my patience and, thank God, it opened up late for me. For a second, I thought I was going to squeeze out in front of John [Campbell and Artriverderci], but there was never enough room so I just ducked to the rail and, thank God, it opened up late.

"Mid-stretch, I was just looking for a place to go," he continued. "I had a lot of horse but nowhere to use my horse. Late, Andy [Miller and Pandoras Sox] and those guys started clearing to go to the outside but after that, I just kept on the rail.

"George's horse [Brennan and Running Book] drifted off and I took what he gave me and I'm lucky he got through there. He was still a little rolly tonight. He still had some trouble. It's hard for him to go real fast and smooth all the time, but he can go rough and go fast, so that's okay. I never thought I'd win one million-dollar race, let alone two, so I'm just happy to be here. It's been a great run."

Always A Virgin, who was sent off the 7-5 favorite in the race, received a second-over trip behind Tell All but went off stride in the stretch and finished last. "I thought he was going to be real close, but he got caught on a bad spot with the whip and he ran," said Brian Sears, who was in the sulky behind Always A Virgin.

Tetrick, 25, leads the sport in wins and earnings this season. He picked up win No. 648 in the Meadowlands Pace and the $500,000 winner's share of the jackpot boosted his earnings to $8.1 million. The sport's rising star is taking dead aim at the season record for wins, which Walter Case Jr. set with 1,077 in 1998. Earlier this year, he became the youngest driver to reach the 3,000-win level.

Southwind Lynx's victory was redemption for trainer George Teague Jr., who sent out Total Truth and Western Ace to respective eighth and ninth-place finishes in the 2006 Meadowlands Pace. After nearly a month off, during which he battled a lung infection, Southwind Lynx finished fourth in his Pace elimination last week.

"The trip didn't look good down the backside, but Timmy ducked him inside and did was he supposed to do," Teague said. "Last week, I really was impressed. He was off four weeks and still qualified for the Pace final. I thought last week's race would launch him into a good night here. I thought we were in a good spot in the stretch, but on the backside, I thought we were screwed. I think that's where he's best at, coming off cover."

A crowd of 17,015 turned out to watch the 31st edition of the Meadowlands Pace. A total of $722,011 was wagered on the race, $205,158 of which was on-track.

$1 Million Meadowlands Pace The Meadowlands Saturday, July 14, 2007
PP Horse                          Driver
5 Southwind Lynx               Tim Tetrick
1 Tell All                            Jody Jamieson
10 Artriverderci                 John Campbell
7 Kenneth J                        Ron Pierce
9 Sutter Hanover                David Miller
4 Pandora's Sox                 Andy Miller
2 Running Book                  George Brennan
6 Watta Hotshot                  Mike Lachance
8 Truey's Legacy                M Vanderkemp
3 Always A Virgin                Brian Sears
:26.1      :53      1:20.4      1:49.1