Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Mr Nice Guy Wins Matt's Scooter Final

March 22, 2008

Mr Nice Guy took command at the half and never looked book en route to a 3 3/4-length victory in the $84,000 Matt's Scooter Final Saturday night at the Meadowlands. Driven by Ron Pierce, Mr Nice Guy cleared the top in :55.4 and accelerated away from the field in the stretch. He paced the mile in 1:52.1. Runner-up Harley D Hanover made a brief bid, but was no match for the winner. Anais Kicker was a distanced third.

" I just wanted the race to set up and then, soon as they started to come back to me, I made my move," Pierce said. "I could tell this colt had a lot of pace. I wasn't too concerned about [Harley D Hanover]. He still has a lot in his tank."

Robert Scharf's Between The Pipes Stable purchased Mr Nice Guy privately on February 28, 2008. Mr Nice Guy improved his record to three wins in 20 starts and surpassed the $100,000 mark in earnings. Nat Varty trains the 3-year-old son of Western Ideal.

"I can't really take credit for picking him out," Scharf said. "My friend [horse agent] Anthony Altomonte, who has been around [racing] for a long time, found the horse. He had been following him a long time and told me I had to jump on it. I am thankful I did. Nat's done a great job with him the last couple of weeks, and I am real happy about that."

Scharf's father, Martin, is a longtime horseowner best known for campaigning 2000 Horse of the Year Gallo Blue Chip.

"My dad is a good advisor to me," he noted. "He's been in this game a long time. He's been at the top. It is nice to have his advice right there by my side and hopefully we keep going forward from here."