from the Meadowlands Publicity Department
East Rutherford, NJ — Rocknroll Hanover, winner of two straight and five of 10 lifetime, has been installed as the 9-5 morning line favorite, leaving from post nine in the $500,000 SBOA/ New Jersey Classic on Saturday night at the Meadowlands. The SBOA/New Jersey Classic, carded as the seventh race, is a showcase for New Jersey-sired three-year-old pacing colts and geldings. In the co-featured fifth race, the $200,000 Miss New Jersey for three-year-old New Jersey-sired pacing fillies, the entry of Ideal News and Copywriter is rated the 6-5 morning line favorite. Rocknroll Hanover, driven by Brian Sears and trained by Brett Pelling, is one of a trio of New Jersey Classic finalists owned in part by Jeffrey Snyder of New York City. Snyder co-owns Rocknroll Hanover and Cam’s Fool with Phyllis Audrey Campbell’s Lothlorien Equestrian Center of Mississauga, Ontario, and is partners with Arlene and Jules Siegel of New Hope, Pennsylvania, on Village Jolt. Village Jolt, the 2004 Two-Year-Old Colt Pacer of the Year, will be driven by Ron Pierce and is trained by Ed Hart. He drew post three and is rated the 4-1 second choice. Cam’s Fool, with John Campbell driving and Brett Pelling training, will leave from post four and is the 6-1 fourth choice in the morning line. New Jersey Racing Commission rules permit the uncoupling of ownership entries in races with purses of $500,000 or more. Rocknroll Hanover cruised to a half length victory in his New Jersey Classic elimination raced over a sloppy track last Saturday night. “He sprinted real good at the top of the lane and coasted to the wire,” Pelling said after the elims. “I hope he is a little more serious (for the final), but he had more of a game face on this week than last.” “He definitely benefited from the first week and raced more alertly,” Pelling added. “He warmed up better and was just more in race mode, and that’s what I figured was going to happen.” Last year the son of Western Ideal – Rich N Elegant was the longshot winner of the $933,086 Metro Final at Ontario’s Woodbine Racetrack, setting a two-year-old world record of 1:49.4. This year the bay colt has two wins in two starts, capturing a first leg division of the New Jersey Sires Stakes the week before his Classic elim victory over Stronger Player and Village Jolt. “New Jersey-breds have a great situation with the sires stakes races and the Classic,” noted Pelling. “They get to race against their own kind right now. I know it’s the Meadowlands and it’s tough, but there are no surprises here.” Pelling has won a record nine elimination races for the New Jersey Classic, been on the board in the final in five of the last seven years and won it twice — with Shady Character in 1998 and Art’s Conquest in 1999. 12 of his 15 finalists have earned checks (finishing fifth or better). Snyder owned the 1994 New Jersey Classic winner and Horse of the Year Cam’s Card Shark, the sire of six of this year’s finalists (Cam’s Fool, George At Bigs, Jo Pa’s Shark, Load The Dice, Village Jolt and You Tell Gordy) as well as four of the Miss New Jersey finalists (Freezer Cash, Secret Deal, Tarport Erin and Vegas Style) — 10 of the 20 starters. “It’s unbelievable, incredible,” said Snyder, 59, whose Etna Products Company manufactures and imports house wares and giftware. “Ten out of 20 is unreal. That’s why he’s the hottest sire around. I believed in Cam’s Card Shark as a sire all along. Now everyone can see it. I put my money where my mouth is, where my thoughts were. I never wavered on him.” The New Jersey Classic, the richest event for state-breds, and its filly companion event, the Miss New Jersey, usher in the Championship Meet at the Meadowlands that runs through Hambletonian Day, August 6, and features more than $15 million in stakes. Miss New Jersey Erica Scanlon of Pittman, New Jersey will present the trophy to the equine winner of the Miss New Jersey. Scanlon will also assist in drawing the winner of the “Name the Foal Contest” held in honor of the first foal delivered by champion mare Worldly Beauty, who won the Miss New Jersey in 2002. The Meadowlands will be closed on Sunday but open for daytime racing on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, featuring a portable sports seat giveaway (to paid admissions, while supplies last). First race post time is 1:10 p.m. on May 30. Thereafter, the racing schedule is Wednesday through Saturday nights, post time 7:30 p.m. 5th Race — $200,000 Miss New Jersey Final 7th Race — $500,000 SBOA/New Jersey Classic Final
Hd #, PP, Horse, Driver, Trainer, ML
1, 3, Ideal News, David Miller, Joe Holloway, 6-5
1A, 10, Copywriter, Ron Pierce, Noel Daley, 6-5
2, 1, Righteous Renee, Cat Manzi, Mark Ford, 15-1
3, 2, Vegas Style, Jim Morrill Jr., Jeff Stafford, 8-1
4, 4, Savannah Sky, John Campbell, Chris Ryder, 7-2
5, 5, Unspoken, George Brennan, Kathleen LaMontagne, 10-1
6, 6, Tarport Erin, Mike Lachance, Brian Roland, 12-1
7, 7, Freezer Cash, Cat Manzi, Michael Russo, 5-1
8, 8, Secret Deal, Brian Sears, Nat Varty, 15-1
9, 9, Make Me Money, Jim Morrill Jr., Mark Harder, 15-1
PP, Horse, Driver, Trainer, ML
1, Strong Player, George Brennan, Richard J. Banca, 8-1
2, George At Bigs, Jim Morrill Jr., Mark Harder, 15-1
3, Village Jolt, Ron Pierce, Ed Hart, 4-1
4, Cam’s Fool, John Campbell, Brett Pelling, 6-1
5, South Park Hanover, Yannick Gingras, Charles Connor Jr, 15-1
6, Dr Zip, Mike Lachance, Donna Marshall, 15-1
7, Jo Pa’s Shark, Eric Ledford, Jim Campbell, 10-1
8, You Tell Gordy, Cat Manzi, Robert Siegelman, 20-1
9, Rocknroll Hanover, Brian Sears, Brett Pelling, 9-5
10, Load The Dice, David Miller, Chris Ryder, 5-1