by Nick Salvi, executive director, The Classic Series

Lexington, KY — The Classic Series’ $1 million finals will be raced over the Mohawk Racetrack strip on Saturday, June 5. The Classic Finals will be at a distance of a mile and three-eighths.

The $250,000 Classic Distaff Final is listed as race five and will again be the stage for a most competitive group of pacing mares. Last year’s Distaff champion, Eternal Camnation, appears to be finding her best form just in time to defend her title for owners the Eternal Camnation Stable.

Bunny Lake, who experienced an equipment malfunction and went off stride in the third leg on Saturday, sharpened up with a qualifier this morning and has drawn post one for the Final.

Carolina Sunshine must be reckoned with at every turn and Burning Point was hopelessly locked in last Saturday.

Sure Sign, Jasper Avenue, Artistic Vision and Lookettepoedunk complete the field of eight.

Race six, the $250,000 Classic Oaks Final features the greatly anticipated clash between Stroke Play and Windylane Hanover. Each won the 2003 Dan Patch Award for their respective division and the two mares have drawn into different divisions in each of the three preliminary legs. Post position will not play a role as they have secured posts one and two for Saturday’s race.

Lurking out in post eight is Scully FBI, who surprised the favorites in the 2003 Oaks Final.

Gypsy Balance, Dresden Dolly, Lost Lady One, Medoland Miracle, Sunday Yankee and Queen Connie round out the nine horse final.

Trainer Mark Harder sends out a powerful contingent of three in the $250,000 Pacing Classic Final, race eight on the program.

Cliff and Herbert Siegel and John Fodera’s Luckyisasluckydoes is the point leader for this division and demands respect. Stablemate Camcracker was a closing second in the most recent Classic leg while the third of Harder’s string, Eaton Road Kill, should relish the added distance.

Escape The Wind had an impossible trip in his last and Royal Mattjesty reunites with John Campbell, who drove him to a career best 1:48⁴ in The Meadowlands leg.

Pinnacle, Life Source, and Life Sizzles will make their presence felt in this eight horse event.

Harder is gaining fast on Trond Smedshammer in the race for TCS $10,000 Trainer’s Bonus, which will be awarded to the trainer accumulating the high point total throughout the entire 2004 series.

The $250,000 Trotting Classic Final (race nine) must be regarded as a wide open affair. Each of the preliminary legs has resulted in a different winner and those horses, Elegant Man, Y Chance It and Saint John’s Boy, have drawn the three inside posts for the Final.

Fool’s Goal won the Mohawk leg but was ineligible for the final, having raced in only one leg of the series.

A strong case could be made for all of the entrants in the field of nine including Approved Action, Diamond Goal, JM Vangogh, Center Field, Rockymosa Raptor and Cosington.

Purses for all TCS events in 2004, funded by consignors and buyers at TCS Sponsor Yearling Sales, owners nominating to TCS events and the Host Tracks will reach a total of $2,185,000.

Post time for the Saturday card at Mohawk has been moved to 7:15 p.m.

Find the entries and other useful information at www.theclassicseries.com.