from the Meadowlands Publicity Department
East Rutherford, NJ — Chicago-based trainer Homer Hochstetler has a powerful pair of pacing mares poised to tackle the Winter Series at the Meadowlands.
Parklane Powerful and Nu-Diamond Star are both eligible to the Cape & Cutter Series, which begins February 11 and concludes with a $91,600 final on February 25, and March’s Overbid Series, which features a $122,520 Final on March 25.
A prolific competitor in the open ranks at Maywood and Balmoral, six-year-old Parklane Powerful made her Meadowlands debut in last Friday’s Mares Open and finished sixth after getting shuffled out of contention. Nu-Diamond Star will compete in this Friday’s Mares Open, drawing post two with Eric Ledford scheduled to drive. She is rated the 7-2 second choice in her 2005 debut.
“She was okay (on Friday night),” Hochstetler said of Parklane Powerful. “I thought she would need a prep. Eric (Ledford, her driver) didn’t think so. He said she would have done better if she didn’t get shuffled back. Her forte is coming from off the pace. If there is lively pace up front she likes to race from behind, but she has raced on the front.”
Parklane Powerful was a bargain purchase who has earned $631,631 for Hochstetler and Arthur and Shirley LeVin’s Fighting Major Stable of Barrington, Illinois.
“I got her when she was two from the Cottonwood Sale for $5,000 (September 20, 2000),” he said. “I like her ’cause she goes to the bank every time. She had a look about her (in the sale). In her second generation, there was a mare, Immortality, who was real good, and she looked a lot like her.
“She is very sound,” he continued. “She has never been laid off for an injury. We will start racing her and get her a little tighter. We will see how she does in the series and then decide what’s next.”
One of Parklane Powerful’s brightest moments in 2004 was defeating Loyal Opposition in both the elimination and final of the Ann Vonian at Balmoral.
“It is a little different here,” he said, referring to Chicago area racing. “At Balmoral you can sit last and out-sprint them but the stretch is a little shorter here, so she has to be a little closer because it will be harder to out sprint them. Also there are more, better horses here. There might be three good horses in the race (at Balmoral) and then others to fill the race. She beat Loyal Opposition last year who is a good mare.
“The main reason we brought her out here (to the Meadowlands) is because they can’t fill a filly and mare race out in Balmoral,” he continued. “There are not enough of them and I thought she deserves a shot so I brought her out here and put her in a series next month.”
Hochstetler has opted to give Parklane Powerful a week off, while his other charge, Nu-Diamond Star, returns to the Meadowlands this week for the first time since her third place finish in the $310,000 Mistletoe Shalee on Hambletonian Day. Nu-Diamond Star will start from post two in Friday night’s $47,500 Mares Open.
Bred and owned by the LeVins, Nu-Diamond Star is the second foal out of their mare Nu Corvette, a winner of nearly $175,000 in her career. Nu-Diamond Star has finished first, second or third in 24 of her 27 career starts, for earnings of $430,923. Her victories in 2004 included a Bluegrass division at The Red Mile and the Cinderella at Maywood.
Wagering in the Presidential will benefit Tsunami Relief
The Meadowlands Racetrack will donate its profit from wagering on Saturday night’s second leg of the Presidential Series, which should yield nearly $25,000 for Tsunami Relief.
Drivers, trainers and owners as well as guests will also be encouraged to make donations to the American Red Cross International Response Fund.
“The Meadowlands and its racing community wish to add to the other worldwide efforts in order to bring back normalcy and stability to people affected by this incredible tragedy,” said Meadowlands Vice President and General Manager Chris McErlean. “Devoting 100 percent of the commissions for our top race this weekend gives everyone an incentive to help make a difference.”
Both the Meadowlands and the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey (SBOA) will donate all of their portions of the commission on both on-track and off-track wagering on the Tsunami Relief Race to the American Red Cross.
The Meadowlands and horsemen’s share of the commission on money handled at the Meadowlands is 19 percent (the balance of the pool is returned to bettors). Wagering on the Meadowlands’ races at other locations represents a commission averaging three percent.
Donations should be sent to American Red Cross (checks made out to Red Cross International Response), 74 Godwin Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450. For more information, call 1-800-HELP-NOW or e-mail info@usa.redcross.org.