from the Meadowlands Publicity Department

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – February 20, 2004 – Carolina Sunshine [$5.80, $3.40, $2.40] charged from the back of the back at the top of the stretch to draw off to a length and quarter victory in the fifth race, the $85,650 Cape & Cutter Final on Friday night at the Meadowlands.

The five-year-old pacing mare equaled the stakes record with a time of 1:51.2 for the mile.

The co-fastest pacing mare of all time with a lifetime record of 1:48.4, Carolina Sunshine traveled the outside tier, fourth over, until tipping out three-wide on the turn for home and four-wide through the stretch. Odds On Charmaine [$4.40, $3.40] was second best and it was two and a quarter lengths back to Worldly Beauty [$3.40] in third.

“I know she’s a real nice mare, and Ross [trainer Ross Croghan] told me it takes a few starts to get her ready,” said Brian Sears, who has driven Carolina Sunshine in her last three starts. “She’s a better mare off the pace. I wanted to get second or third over. I had excess cover and was concerned about that, and she overcame it and that’s all that matters. I didn’t know if she could reach, three-deep before the turn, but she just kept closing.”

“She did the work and threw in a super effort,” said Croghan of the five-year-old black daughter of Cambest. “She was real good. She was real good last week, too. She came from last and was pacing well through the wire last week. That was her first really good mile of the year. She has the Overbid next, and she’ll stay here. She’s eligible for all the mares’ races.”

Carolina Sunshine races for the Let It Ride Stables of Delray Beach, Florida and Shari Watchman of Colts Neck, New Jersey. She now has a career record of 27 wins, 23 seconds and five thirds from 73 starts for earnings of $595,373.

In the co-featured $76,500 Tender Loving Care Final, carded as the second race, Thrilled [$4.20, $2.10] drew off to a two and a half length victory over Gussie Herman [$2.10] in a stakes record 1:53.4.

Shesaporsche, part of the five-filly entry with Thrilled, was third by two and three-quarters. There was no show wagering.

Thrilled, unraced at two, posted her second win in four lifetime starts, boosting her earnings to $114,750.

“I’ve noticed her racing, and she had a reputation of being a hair tricky,” said Cat Manzi, who drove Thrilled for the first time.

“She went out on the track, and she felt like a horse. When they have some talent, it overcomes the greenness.”

Manzi moved the three-year-old daughter of Real Artist to the lead by the half, taking over the front from entrymate Shesaporsche, driven by Mike Lachance.

“It seemed like a good time to move, and Mike released me and followed me,” Manzi noted. “When I saw Gussie Herman coming, I was looking for the wire.”

Thrilled is co-owned by trainer Chris Ryder of Allentown, New Jersey; the Crescent T Stable of New City, New York and the Sampson Street Stable of Old Forge, Pennsylvania.

“She was training well as a two-year-old and got a little colt sore but nothing major,” Ryder said. “She was big and growthy, and so we just stopped with her. [This year] she’s in most of the big races.

She’ll get a little time off now. We’ll just back off on her and get ready for the bigger races. I’m just thrilled.”