from the Meadowlands Publicity Department

East Rutherford, NJ — Loyal Opposition charged to the lead just past the half and drew off to a one and three-quarter length victory, extending her winning streak to four, in the $100,000 Thomas Strada Memorial, the sixth race on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

The 2004 Older Pacing Mare of the Year, Loyal Opposition posted her sixth win in eight starts this year and improved her career record to 36 wins, 11 seconds and nine thirds from 61 career starts. The victory pushed her lifetime bankroll to $2,044,913.

“She’s just been a great mare all along,” said winning driver George Brennan. “Erv (trainer Ervin Miller) has her on top of her game.”

Artbitration ($4.00, $3.20) got up for second and it was three and three-quarter lengths to She’s My Belle ($3.00) in third.

Loyal Opposition, a five-year-old daughter of Cole Muffler, paced the mile in 1:50.2.

“She raced super,” said Miller, who trains the mare for Daniel Waxman of Ancaster, Ontario. “George did a good job racing her. She has the Classic at Dover next.”

The second edition of the Strada honors the memory of Thomas Strada, 41, who was killed in the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. He was a vice president on the corporate bond desk at Cantor Fitzgerald. A longtime racing fan, he grew up near the former Roosevelt Raceway in Westbury, New York. His wife, Terry, is the daughter of the late Hall of Fame horseman George Sholty.

“Tom is really a hero,” said George Brennan. “All the victims of 9-11 are heroes and sadly missed.”

In the co-featured $47,500 Open Pace, carded as the eighth race, Canyon Wind ($16.00, $7.80, $4.80) held on for a nose victory over a hard-charging Maltese Artist ($6.80, $4.00) in 1:49.1. Life Source ($3.20) was third by two and a half lengths.

For Canyon Wind, driven by David Miller and trained by Steve Elliott, the victory was his third in 10 starts this year. The 1:49.1 clocking was a lifetime best for the five-year-old son of Cambest, owned by Schoor Racing Stable of Colts Neck, New Jersey and Val D’Or Farms of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey.

“I thought there would be a lot of leavers in there,” said Miller. “I thought I’d get a close trip. But he felt so good tonight I moved him, and he just exploded. He just raced really well.”