from Meadowlands Media Relations

Four Starzzz Shark, the headliner in the $552,500 Breeders Crown Pace on Saturday at the Meadowlands, will try to extend his winning streak to eight from post position four, the slot on the starting gate selected by co-owner Jeff Cohen.

The connections of the recently syndicated son of Cam’s Card Shark, as one of the elimination winners, were able to choose their post position in the Breeders Crown and Cohen chose second in a draw by lot.

Four Starzzz Shark was installed as the 2-5 morning line favorite.

Four Breeders Crown Finals, worth $1.9 million, share the twilight program with the elimination heats for the $1 million Hambletonian and $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks. Post time for the first race on Saturday is 5 p.m.

“Perhaps I’m prejudiced but I can’t think of an open pacer anywhere right now that’s better than Four Starzzz Shark,” said Cohen.

“It’s a matter of confidence. We protected him for a couple of years, it’s true, but I knew that this year there were no Real Desires or Art Majors or McArdles out there. We were able to put him on the front end, and he just has swelled up and doesn’t want to let a horse by him. Is the world record [1:47.3] in jeopardy? I don’t know about that but we’ve told Uncle Mikey [driver Mike Lachance] to send him out of there as fast as you can.”

Driver John Campbell, with first choice of post position selected post two for Royal Mattjesty, winner of the other Crown elimination.

“I don’t mind following Four Starzzz Shark around the track as long as the fraction are hot,” he commented. “I’m not going to follow him around in 1:25. Four Starzzz Shark has been unbeatable lately, but I’ve driven plenty of favorites that have gotten beat. So it can happen.”

The Crown Pace is the first of the four $1.9 million divisional championships on the card and has an approximate post time of 7:37 p.m.

The complete field in post position order with driver and morning line: Quality Western, Yannick Gingras, 8-1; Royal Mattjesty, John Campbell, 6-1; Mini Me, Brian Sears, 12-1; Four Starzzz Shark, Mike Lachance, 2-5; Peruvian Hanover Jim Morrill Jr., 15-1; Boulder Creek, Ron Pierce, 10-1; Camcracker Mark MacDonald, 15-1; Allamerican Captor, David Miller, 30-1; Artesian, Daniel Dube, 30-1 and Dr Drew, Dale Hiteman, 30-1.

With only seven entries in the $250,000 Breeders Crown Mare Trot [race nine, approximate post 8:02], there were no eliminations and a straight draw for post positions. Jorgen Jahre’s defending sophomore Crown champion Stroke Play drew post four and was installed as the 3-5 favorite with driver Brian Sears. Stroke Play, with six of seven wins this year and $355,936 on her card is one of four trotters trainer Trond Smedshammer will send out in Crown competition.

“The short field is good for her,” said Smedshammer. “Because then it gives her more time to settle in, and Brian can sit with her until he chooses to go. She can go first or come from cover, but the short field will help her.”

The complete field in post position order with driver and morning line: Gypsy Balance, no driver, 10-1; Lost Lady One, Cat Manzi, 5-1; Sunday Yankee, John Campbell, 15-1; Stroke Play, Brian Sears, 3-5; Scully FBI Daniel Dube, 6-1; Armbro Affair, Ron Pierce. 12-1 and Delmartha, Trevor Ritchie, 8-1.

Potentially the most competitive race on the card will be the $300,000 Breeders Crown Mare Pace [race 11, approximate post 8:52].

Eternal Camnation, the richest pacing mare of all time and a three-time Crown winner drew outside with post nine.

“We don’t know if she’s lost a step or not,” said co-owner Doc Miller of the seven-year-old daughter of Cam Fella. “You know last year at this point we thought she was maybe a little tired, and then at the end of the season, she came on real hard, so you just don’t know with her. She never did like the hot weather or high humidity, and when we come here in the summer it’s to race against the best mares in the world. But you never know with her. She can still do it.”

Loyal Opposition, at 3-1 in the morning line and Burning Point, 7-2, were made the tepid favorites while 2001 Horse of the Year Bunny Lake drew post 11, the only trailer in the field.

The complete field in post position order with driver and morning line: 1-My Fantasy, Daniel Dube, 20-1; Sure Sign, Yannick Gingras, 10-1; Burning Point, Ron Pierce, 7-2; Jasper Avenue, Jim Morrill Jr., 30-1; Always Cam, David Miller, 15-1; Odds On Charmaine, Cat Manzi, 30-1;Animated Art Mike Lachance, 5-1; Loyal Opposition, George Brennan, 3-1;Eternal Camnation, Eric Ledford, 8-1; Carolina Sunshine, Brian Sears, 10-1 and Bunny Lake, John. Campbell, 6-1.

The last Crown race of the evening will be the $800,000 Breeders Crown Trot [race 12, approximate post 9:21]. Four of the 14 trotters received byes into the final: foreign classic winner Legendary Lover K, and seasonal earnings leaders Windylane Hanover, the lone mare entrant, Fool’s Goal and Cosington. Elegant Man won the Crown elimination leaving it to driver Cat Manzi to pick his starting post. He opted for the rail for the son 1996 – 1997 Crown champion Malabar Man.

“I’ve got to pick my favorite post position, the rail,” said Manzi. “I think this horse can do a lot more than they realize. I think I can do anything I want with him as long as I don’t get crazy.

There are three or four or maybe more in there that can win this. Yes, I’m having a great year but it’s the horses you get behind that give you the confidence.”

Two-time champion and Titan Cup winner Fool’s Goal drew post three and was assigned the role of 5-2 favorite. Legendary Lover K, last seen in the 2000 Hambletonian, has accumulated more than $1.5 million in a European campaign. The seven-year-old cleared customs late on Monday afternoon. He will be driven by Mike Lachance from post four.

Windylane Hanover drew post eight in the 10-horse field.

Trainer Brett Bittle shed some light on why he entered against the boys despite the return of the Crown Mare trot after an eight-year hiatus.

“I think we might have dodged one of the best trotters out [by going against the boys] in Stroke Play,” he said. “I think this race may set up a little better for her. She came back really sharp right off the bat, and she hasn’t thrown in a bad race all year.”

The complete field in post position order with driver and morning line: Elegant Man, Cat Manzi, 8-1; HP Paque, Brian Sears, 7-2; Fool’s Goal, Jack Moiseyev, 5-2; Legendary Lover K, Mike Lachance, 6-1; Bebop, Trond Smedshammer, 15-1; Cosington, Trevor Ritchie, 15-1; War Paint, John Campbell, 6-1; Windylane Hanover, Ron Pierce, 9-2; Stand Strong, David Miller, 15-1 and Center Field, Jim Morrill Jr., 30-1.