from Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – July 15, 2005 – Classic Photo [$3.40, $2.80, $2.60] established himself as one of the top contenders in the $1.5 million Hambletonian with an impressive victory in the $350,000 Stanley Dancer Trot on Friday night at the Meadowlands.

Lisa Photo

Classic Photo trotted the mile in 1:53.4, drawing off to a one-length victory over Strong Yankee to win the $350,000 Stanley Dancer Trot.

The colt trotted the fifth race mile in 1:53.4, drawing off to a one-length victory over Strong Yankee [$5.20, $4.60]. It was two lengths to Vino Camielle [$9.60] in third.

Nine of the 10 three-year-old trotters in the Dancer are eligible to the Hambletonian [elims on July 30 and final on August 6].

“This is a nice little horse,” said winning driver Ron Pierce. “He’s done everything I’ve asked him; he’s got a lot of git. He’s the first horse that reminds me of American Winner [Pierce’s 1993 Hambletonian winner]. “At the top of the stretch I was licking my chops. The little fellow was raring to go. I want to say hello to Mr. Stanley Dancer, my idol.”

Dancer, the Hall of Fame trainer and driver from New Egypt, New Jersey, was at his home in Pompano Beach, Florida. He is gravely ill.”

“I’m feeling like I’m in good shape going in there [the Hambletonian],” said trainer Erv Miller. “But I know there’s always something that can happen. But he stays pretty steady.”

Classic Photo, a son of SJ’s Photo and out of the American Winner mare, Classic Winner, has now won four straight, five of eight starts this year. He captured Canada’s premier event, the $277,101 Goodtimes, on June 18. Lifetime, he has six wins, four seconds and one third from 16 starts and a bankroll of $431,976 for the ownership of HW Wright of Morton, Illinois; Mystical Marker Farms of Chicago Heights, Illinois, and Jack and Peggy Hood of Valparaiso, Indiana. He was an $87,000 yearling purchase at the Kentucky Standardbred Sale.

Runner-up Strong Yankee made a strong bid but could not catch Classic Photo.

“They changed the shoes on him,” said Brian Sears, the driver of Strong Yankee. “He raced a lot better. He’s going in the right direction.”

Diesel Don broke stride at the start and was never a factor.

“He got mixed up in the gate and wouldn’t get trotting,” said John Campbell. “It’s just not like him.”

MARGARITA NIGHTS WINS THREE-WAY PHOTO IN $350,000 DEL MILLER

Lisa Photo

Margarita Nights (3) nipped the pacesetting Pink Ribbons and Flirtin Miss for a nose victory in the $350,000 Del Miller Memorial.

In a three-filly photo, Margarita Nights [$9.60, $5.00, $3.60] nipped the pacesetting Pink Ribbons [$7.00, $3.80] and Flirtin Miss [$2.60] for a nose victory in the $350,000 Del Miller Memorial, the seventh race on Friday night at the Meadowlands.

“I was like fourth over,” said winning driver Jack Moiseyev. “They were going pretty good up front. I just didn’t know if I had too far to come. She just dug right in.”

Margarita Nights, trained by Karen Garland, trotted the mile in a lifetime best of 1:54.2.

Moiseyev missed his earlier driving assignments and arrived just in time for the Miller, the final prep for the Hambletonian Oaks. Weather caused delays in his flight from Canada.

“I left at 1 p.m. and got here 10 minutes ago,” he said. “I want to thank Cammie [presiding judge Haughton] and the guys for waiting for me.”

Margarita Nights, a bay daughter of Yankee Glide, posted her second straight victory, her fifth win in nine starts this year. She races for Deena Frost of Delray Beach, Florida; Sampson Street Stables of Old Forge, Pennsylvania and Jerry Silva of Bellmore, New York.

BRAMASOLE WINS INAUGURAL PERRETTI MATCHMAKER

Bramasole [$28.20, $9.60, $4.00] captured the inaugural edition of the $100,000 Perretti Matchmaker Stakes, the third race on Friday night at the Meadowlands.

Lisa Photo

Bramasole trotted the mile in 1:53.1, a lifetime best, winning by a neck over Silver Springs.

The four-year-old daughter of Muscles Yankee trotted the mile in 1:53.1, a lifetime best, winning by a neck over Silver Springs [$8.40, $3.80]. Mystical Sunshine [$2.80] was third by three-quarters of a length.

“She raced great,” said Eric Ledford, who guided Bramasole to her third win in six starts this year. “She’s done all the work. This is a tough group of mares, eight very eligible horses in the race that you have to beat. Muscles Yankee is a standout in the trotting world.”

Trained by Seldon Ledford, Bramasole is owned by James Jesk of Lemont, Illinois.

In addition to $50,000 of the purse, the winner also receives a breeding to one of the four trotting stallions at Perretti Farms in Cream Ridge, New Jersey: Muscles Yankee, Windsong’s Legacy, Revenue or Dream Vacation.

“If it’s an option, we might breed one of our other trotting mares to Muscles Yankee,” Eric Ledford said.