Four Starzzz Shark wins Haughton at Meadowlands Harness Racetrack

By TOM CANAVAN, AP Sports Writer
July 10, 2004

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Four Starzzz Shark took the lead early and scored a 2 1/4 -length victory in the $700,000 William R. Haughton Memorial Final at the Meadowlands Racetrack on Saturday night.

Four Starzzz Shark paced the mile in 1:48.1 in winning his sixth straight race and his eighth in nine starts this year.

The time was two-fifths of a second off the world record that Four Starzzz Shark set in winning his elimination last weekend.

``He is just getting better all the time,'' driver Mike Lachance said after Four Starzzz Shark won the richest pace for older horses and become the first horse to win this race twice.

The 6-year-old son of Cam's Card Shark paid $2.80 and $2.10 and earned $385,000, pushing his career earnings to $2,477,267. There was no show wagering.

Life Source finished second in the field of 10 and returned $2.10.
While Four Starzzz Shark never lost the lead, the horse was challenged a couple of times.

Boulder Creek took a run at Four Starzzz Shark right after the start, and Mini Me made a bold three-wide move at the end of the backstretch. Neither horse got to the lead.

Once Four Starzzz Shark reached the stretch, the horse found another gear and cruised home for his 24th win in 71 starts.

``He's such a great horse and he proved it again tonight,'' trainer Dave Sabatelli said. ``He was pressured the whole way. It's a thrill to train him.''

Allamerican Captor finished third and was followed by Peruvian Hanover, Art's Chip, Royal Mattjesty, Boulder Creek, Luckyisasluckydoes, "