from Meadowlands Publicity Department

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – March 6, 2004 – Sagebrush and Image of Dawn each turned in decisive victories in their respective $25,000 division of the first round of the Four Leaf Clover Series on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

In the first division, carded as the third race, Sagebrush [$6.40, $3.60, $3.60] drew off to a three and a quarter length victory over Mt Vernon Hanover [$9.80, $5.60] in 1:51.2. It was four and a quarter lengths to Iron Legend [$8.20] in third.

“I made a big brush to the half with him,” said driver Daniel Dube of Sagebrush. “And after that, I had a handful. He won easily.”

The five-year-old son of Western Hanover, who races for the Rucker Stable of Beecher, Illinois, and Martin Engel of Buffalo Grove, Illinois, posted his second win in nine starts this year.

“This was a little easier for him tonight than last week,” said Al Meyer, who oversees the New Jersey stable of Chicago-based trainer Ken Rucker. “When he gets the front, he gets much braver. Dan has driven him twice and won with him both times. That’s because he was in the right spot both times. He has his problems, but he gets over them and likes to race. He hits his knees so he wears spreaders. He won the Clyde Hirt Series last year and Ken bought him for $75,000 out of the January 2003 Mixed Sale here. It ended up being a good investment.”

In the second division, the fifth race, Image of Dawn [$5.60, $3.80, $2.80] swooped from last to first in the last eight of a mile, drawing off to a length and three-quarter victory in 1:51.1. Synide [$7.20, $4.60] got up for second, and it was four lengths back to Brooklyn Hanover [$7.20] in third.

Image of Dawn, driven and trained by Patrick Lachance, picked up his first win in nine starts this year. He was runner-up in the $162,000 Isle of Capri on February 28 at Pompano Park.

Owned by M&M Harness Racing LLC of Suffern, New York, Image of Dawn has a career bankroll in excess of $370,000.

The top 10 money-earners from the first two weeks of Four Leaf Clover action advance to the $150,000 estimated final on March 20.