by Lynne Snierson, publicity director, Rockingham Park

Salem, NH — Some of the toughest trotters in North America will be at Rockingham Park on Sunday (August 26), fighting for the right to advance to the final for the $50,000 Joseph Carney Memorial Trot on Sunday, September 2.

Two elimination tests, with a $15,000 purse for each, will match the best horses in New England against some of the top competitors in the sport on Sunday’s card.

In the ninth race, Swan Image has garnered the 5-2 early line favoritism in the talented field of six and he may well be a shorter price by post time.

Swan Image, a 4-year-old son of Balanced Image out of the Lindy Lane mare Swan Lake, currently is tied for third on the United States Trotting Association list of the fastest older trotting performers in 2007. He has won over $68,000 with three wins this year, but what makes him really stand out is that he has been taking on the best the sport has to offer in the likes of Corleone Kosmos, Med Vac, Vivid Photo, Sand Vic, and Man About Town among others in premier stakes races.

Last out while driven by harness racing superstar Cat Manzi on August 4, Swan Lake was eighth behind Corleone Kosmos in the $300,000 Nat Ray at the Meadowlands.

For the Carney eliminations on Sunday, Rockingham leading driver Jonathan Roberts will handle the reigns.

Roberts could enjoy a big day on Sunday as he will also drive the 5-2 morning line favorite and track record holder Earl’s Charm K in the other elimination, which will be the seventh of 10 races.

Earl’s Charm K set the Rockingham and New England record of 1:54 for trotters of all ages in July 2006 and he has proved here again this year that he loves competing on the racetrack and being partnered with his regular driver.

Beaten here by a length by Slim Down two starts back on August 12, Earl’s Charm K and Roberts turned the tables on their rival last out on August 19, winning by just over a length.

Slim Down, who is trained, driven, and owned in part by James Hardy, is the 7-2 early choice in the same elimination. Slim Down will begin from post seven, just to the outside of Earl’s Charm K, who drew post six.

The top four finishers from each elimination, plus the fifth place horse with the fastest time, will all move on to comprise the nine-horse field for next Sunday’s $50,000 Joseph Carney Memorial Trot final.

The race is named in honor of the late president of Rockingham, who passed away in 2003.

In the seventh race, the field from the rail out with driver and odds is: Mister Lucky Vec, David Ingraham, 12-1; Kiwi Demand N, Ronald Cushing, 10-1; Rickie, Sean Bier, 9-2; Tamra Dawn N, Fern Paquet, Jr. 8-1; Armbro Barrister, Michael Eaton, 5-1; Earl’s Charm K, Jonathan Roberts, 5-2; and Slim Down, James Hardy, 7-2.

The ninth race field in post position order is: Los Barvos, Sean Bier, 8-1; Swan Image, Jonathan Roberts, 5-2; Enough Talk, Matthew Butcher, Jr., 9-2; Foreign Authority, James Apperti, Jr., 5-1; Budlightning, Fern Paquet, Jr., 10-1; and Always On Guard, Michael Eaton, 7-2.

Post time for Sunday’s races is 1:05 p.m.