from Meadowlands Media Relations

East Rutherford, NJ — Carolina Sunshine upset 4-5 Burning Point to capture the $112,650 Overbid Final, and Four Starzzz King cruised to a series sweep in the $110,800 Matt’s Scooter Final, both on Friday night at the Meadowlands.

Carolina Sunshine equaled the stakes record of 1:51 for the mile, matching the mark shared by Sanabelle Island (2000) and Yes Its True (2002).

Burning Point, who had won the first two legs of the three-week series for free for all mares, was stung early when she used a :26² first quarter to take the lead from Carolina Sunshine, giving the eventual winner a covered trip in the fifth race co-feature.

Carolina Sunshine ($6.60, $2.40, $2.20) got out in the stretch and scored a one length victory over Burning Point ($2.20, $2.10). It was two and a quarter lengths back to Molly Can Do It ($2.40) in third.

“I really wanted to line up close to Burning Point and knew we had to be close to her to win,” said Brian Sears, the driver of Carolina Sunshine, who also won the $85,650 Cape & Cutter Final on February 20.

“She’s really versatile. She can leave :26² and come home in :26² if she has to. I couldn’t ask for a better trip. When she shook loose in the lane, she fired coming home. Burning Point has been racing super for her first year in these ranks.”

“I don’t think she’s as good if you start her early, but we didn’t have a choice,” said Ross Croghan, who trains Carolina Sunshine for the Let It Ride Stables of Delray Beach, Florida, and Shari Watchman of Colts Neck, New Jersey. “We had to race that way if we wanted to be in there. I think she’s a second faster filly if she’s not used early.

“At the half, I knew if we shook loose, we would win. Burning Point had a hard first quarter but she’s a very good filly, especially for a four-year-old.

“She’ll go in the free for all ($75,000 Strada Memorial) in two weeks and then the Classic Series at Dover,” Croghan said of Carolina Sunshine’s schedule. “But first she’s going to the farm for a week in the sun.”

Carolina Sunshine’s fourth win in nine starts this year pushed her lifetime earnings to $684,198.

“She raced great,” driver George Brennan said of Burning Point. “She had a quick opening quarter and a fast half. I slowed her down at the three-quarters, but it opened things up for Carolina Sunshine. It’s not a disgrace finishing second to Carolina Sunshine. She’s a great mare and mine is a great mare, too.”

Four Starzzz King ($6.80, $3.40, $3.00) set a stakes record of 1:51 and completed a sweep of the Matt’s Scooter Series with his three and a quarter length victory over previously unbeaten Western Prince ($2.80, $2.80) in the sixth race. It was four and a half lengths back to Hop Sing ($5.80) in third.

Four Starzzz King, who also won the $95,000 Junior Trendsetter Final on February 21, posted his fifth win in seven starts this year for the FS Starzzzz Stables Inc. of Glenwood, New Jersey. He has career earnings of $138,167 with nine of 13 in the money finishes.

The three-year-old son of The Panderosa clocked the mile in 1:51, a lifetime best, and clipped a fifth of a second off the stakes record of 1:51¹ set by He Wants It All in 2003.

“Last week he was at his best (when he came back to win by a neck),” said driver Mike Lachance of Four Starzzz King. “He’s a horse you have to wake him up before the race. When he’s in front, he’s tough to beat. He’s a colt that has the speed to go with the good colts. He takes care of himself, and he might last longer. I just had to work on him and be tough on him at the top of the stretch.”

“He acts like a nice horse,” said trainer Dave Sabatelli. “Mike has done a wonderful job keeping him awake. The tougher it is, the better he is. He’ll get a break now and get ready for the Berry’s Creek.”

The $250,000 estimated Berry’s Creek, the first major test for three-year-old pacers, is on May 8 at the Meadowlands, with eliminations on May 1.