by Lynne Snierson, publicity director, Rockingham Park

Salem, NH — A full field of nine talented trotters will go postward for the fifth edition of the prestigious $50,000 Joseph Carney Memorial Trot, which headlines an exceptional card of live racing at Rockingham Park on Sunday, August 31.

Scorpion Moon, the winner of one of the two eliminations for the race at The Rock last Sunday, has merited the early 5-2 favoritism in the field but sharp handicappers will also take a close look at Stiletto, who won the other qualifying race last week and is the 7-2 second choice. While Scorpion Moon, who trotted home in 1:56.2, was a little quicker around the Rockingham oval than Stiletto, who stopped the teletimer at 1:56.4, it was Stiletto’s race which jumps off the page of past performances.

Stiletto, to be reunited with driver Sean Bier for the Carney, was never really tested against a quality field and the 8-year-old gelding increased his lead through the stretch to win going away by over five lengths last time out. The Crissy Crissman trainee has won his last two races by more than 11 lengths while getting stronger through the lane as he increased his career earnings to over $900,00.

Scorpion Moon, who will be partnered with driver Jonathan Roberts again, has won three of his last six starts and proved that he has an affinity for the Rockingham racing strip. Trainer and owner Tracy Brainard noted that the one-mile oval better suits her 7-year-old gelding than do the half-mile tracks.

The field for the Carney from the rail out with drivers and odds is: Slave Dream, Brewer Adams, 9-2; Bo Didley N, David Ingraham, 8-1; McCoy, Ron Cushing, 10-1; Local Girl, Barry Boitnott, 15-1; I’m A Cool Breeze, Larry Stalbaum, 5-1; Scorpion Moon, Jonathan Roberts, 5-2; Memphis Hall, Danielle Beaulieu, 20-1; Stiletto, Sean Bier, 7-2; and BJ’s Chinook, Richard Wojcio, 12-1.

The Carney, which is named in honor of Rockingham’s late president and owner Joe Carney, will be contested as the seventh event on a nine-race live card putting up over $121,000 in total purses. The entire day of racing features some of the best pacers and trotters who have been campaigned at Rockingham and in the Northeast over the summer months.

Post time on Sunday is 1:05 p.m. and the Carney Memorial Trot is slated to go off about 3:00 p.m.

On Monday, Rockingham will conclude its 2008 live harness meet with a special Labor Day card and the awarding of a gas BBQ grill from Pepsi to one lucky fan.