from the Meadowlands Publicity Department
East Rutherford, NJ — Loyal Opposition ($9.40, $3.40, $3.00), the Dan Patch Award winning pacing filly at two, surged up the pylons to nab the pacesetter Burning Point ($2.60, $2.20) in the final strides and win by a nose in the $40,000 Mares Open on Friday night at the Meadowlands. It was a length back to Valiant Heart N ($3.20) in third. Loyal Opposition, a four-year-old daughter of Cole Muffler, paced the mile in a personal best of 1:494. Lisa Photo Loyal Opposition edges Burning Point in Friday’s Mares Open at the Meadowlands, a prep for the $238,600 Lady Liberty Final next Friday. “I wanted to get out and follow Burning Point,” winning driver John Campbell said. “I had a quick first quarter, we kind of got through and she responded up the rail for the win.” “I thought we had it,” said driver Ron Pierce of 3-5 favorite Burning Point. “I pulled up just a little and John (Campbell with Loyal Opposition) slipped through and got me. That’s a serious mare that got me. It was a good race.” Trained by Ervin Miller, Loyal Opposition posted her fourth win in her sixth start and increased her lifetime earnings to $1,427,342 for owner Daniel Waxman of Ancaster, Ontario. Loyal Opposition along with five other mares in the open — Sure Sign, Maybe A Rita, Always Cam, Animated Art and Burning Point — will join three of the toughest pacers in training -– Eternal Camnation, Carolina Sunshine and Bunny Lake — to compete in the $238,600 Lady Liberty Final next Friday, June 18, at the Meadowlands.