from Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – April 9, 2004 – Rob Roy Mattgregor and Dream Believer each won a $19,000 division of the first round of the Fox Sports Net Series on Friday night at the Meadowlands.
In the first division, carded as the third race, Rob Roy Mattgregor [$6.40, $3.60, $3.20] cruised to a two and a quarter length victory in a lifetime best of 1:50.4. In the battle for second Cam’s Primetime [$4.00, $3.80] edged out It’s Not Luck [$2.60].
“It worked out the way I wanted it to go,” said Yannick Gingras, who guided Rob Roy Mattgregor to his sixth win in 13 starts this year. “I got a hole and then brushed him back to the lead. I wasn’t really chasing him in the stretch. He’s hard to hold early, and late you have to get after him. It wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t all out.”
Trained by Virgil Morgan Jr., the four-year-old son of Matt’s Scooter pushed his career earnings over the $100,000 mark for the Darby’s Edge Stable of London, Ohio and Joseph DiScala Jr. of Chappaqua, New York.
In a battle of dreams, Dream Believer [$12.00, $3.80, $2.20] nosed out Exit 16W winner Dream Rocket [$2.80, $2.10], the 4-5 favorite, in the second division, the fifth race.
It was a head back to Senior Trendsetter winner Ritch Art [$2.20] in the three-way photo.
The 1:51.2 mile was a lifetime best for Dream Believer who races for The Galarza Stable of Hoboken, New Jersey.
“He got a great cover trip,” said Daniel Dube, who positioned Dream Believer third-over into the stretch. “He didn’t give up in the end. He tried real hard.”
“He’s just a nice horse, and he’s good to be around,” said Kelly Stackowicz, who trains Dream Believer. “We’re playing with his equipment because he’s still brushing one of his knees. He’s been closing on the inside well, but tonight the inside wasn’t moving well. He got a live cover trip, and we got some luck.”