Meadowlands: Shartin gets Golden Girls title that eluded her a year ago

The Golden Girls at the Meadowlands was one of the few stakes races Shartin did not win in 2018, but she added it to her lengthy list of accomplishments this season, taking the $179,550 contest for pacing mares on Saturday night in 2:02 1/5 for the mile and an eighth distance.

Caviart Ally (Andrew McCarthy) showed her usual strong speed from post ten and got to the quarter in 26 seconds flat, but she was under attack from Shartin (Tim Tetrick), who had bypassed an early four-hole tuck to go to the front.

With Kissin In The Sand (Scott Zeron) in an extended first-over grind and unable to reach Shartin through a 54 1/5 half and 1:22 three-quarters, it was going to be tough to catch the 1-5 favorite, although Caviart Ally pulled to the outside near the 1:48 4/5 mile marker to offer up her last bid. It was to no avail, though, as Shartin proved best again, winning by half a length. Apple Bottom Jeans (Corey Callahan) was a solid third, followed by Seaswift Joy (Brian Sears) and Bettor Joy (Dexter Dunn).

"It wasn't easy - 1:22, 48 in the mile, and then had to go another eighth," said Tetrick. "She's earned that respect, and the fractions are always fair. Everybody has a chance to beat her, they just can't get by her late there. She's pretty tough.

"As soon as they see maybe a little crack in the armor they'll take a shot at her, but for two straight years straight now she's been pretty unbeatable."

Jim King Jr. trains Shartin, a 6-year-old Tintin In America mare, for owners Richard Poillucci, Jo Ann Looney-King, and Tim Tetrick LLC. She picked up her 36th career victory, and she has now pocketed $1,740,503. She returned $2.40 to win.

"My trainer told me that we were good to go, and that's who I believe," offered Looney-King. "I never go into a race saying that I'm a winner. I always know it's tough when you have to race against these kinds of horses. I respect all of them.

"She's so easy. She's a happy horse, she stays in her stall, she likes her paddock, and she has a great caretaker. She's just an easy, wonderful, great horse, and I'm so blessed to have this mare."

Shartin will be back at the Meadowlands on Hambletonian Day to defend her title in the Lady Liberty.