from Meadowlands Media Relations

[East Rutherford, NJ] — Cordial Martini [$24.40, $4.40, $2.10] made a three-wide move in the stretch and out-trotted a game Sundown Score [$2.20, $2.10] to the wire in the fifth race, a $20,000 division of the Father Foley Series, on Sunday afternoon at the Meadowlands.

Lisa Photo Inc

Theater Production drew off to a three and a quarter length victory in 1:55 in the 1st division of the Father Foley Series.

Driven and trained by Jimmy Takter, Cordial Martini got away fifth and followed Five Kids as he applied pressure to the pacesetter Sundown Score at the three-quarter mark. As Five Kids tired, Cordial Martini tipped off cover and charged home for a neck victory in 1:56.1. Golden Blend [$2.10] was third.

It was the second victory in nine starts this season for Cordial Martini, who now has $71,671 in career earnings. The five-year-old son of Lindy Lane is owned by Rex King of Somersville, Connecticut; Eugene Thayer of Lelan, Illinois; and Allen Villar and Jospeh Currier, both of Marlborough, Connecticut.

In the first of the two Father Foley divisions, the third race, Theater Production [$2.80, $2.10, $2.10] sat a pocket trip and drew off to a three and a quarter length victory in 1:55. Solicitor Hanover [$2.60, $2.20] was second, while Patio Pete [$2.10] grabbed the show spot.

The victory was the first in two starts this season for Theater Production, a recent addition to the barn of trainer John Marshall. The five-year-old gelding is owned by Robert Blackman Jr. of Auburn, Maine.

AROUND THE MEADOWLANDS – April 18, 2004

A sure sign of spring is when trainer Bill Popfinger migrates from Florida to New Jersey for the warmer months. His prize pupil, Mini Me, turned in a 1:54 qualifier mile on Friday at the Meadowlands.

“It’s too early to tell if he’s better this year than last,” Popfinger said of Mini Me. “I qualified him myself at Pompano [two weeks ago] and he drove straight and perfect. He really needed that one. When we stopped with him last year, we x-rayed him and he had a chip in his left ankle. We had it taken out in December. I never expected to find anything like that, especially in a real good horse like him. But he’s doing well, not headstrong or anything, and we’ll see after this weeks qualifier if he needs another one or if he goes right into battle.”

Popfinger also has Sure Hanover, a promising two-year-old full brother to his top trotting filly Spellbound Hanover, in his barn.

“He’s a full brother to Spellbound,” Popfinger said. “[Spellbound Hanover’s owner] Bill Mulligan has him, too. He’s perfectly gaited so far, is training better than she did and has an outstanding physical presence. He’s two, maybe three times bigger than she was. Spellbound was all heart and determination. I don’t know what’ll happen once he gets out there in combat, that’s when you find out what they’re made of. This is the first one from that family we’ve had since Spellbound. The others were going for big money, too much money we thought, and we liked this one.”

Trainer Chris Ryder reports that Thrilled, the Tender Loving Care winner, is sidelined with an injury.

“Thrilled broke a P-1 bone behind. She’s going to be out three to four months. She showed enough talent so that we thought she deserved another chance at being a racehorse. We’re going to aim for later in the year with her. If it doesn’t work out when she comes back, we’ll breed her.

Ryder added that one of his top three-year-old pacing prospects, Western Prince, “will qualify Friday, and then have one start before the Berry’s Creek [eliminations on May 8, final on May 15]. He’s coming along fine.”

Former open pacer Aba Daba Doo has been resting at trainer Bib Roberts’ farm, according to his owner, Ron Mario. “He has ankle problems, and some cartilage problems,” Mario said. “I’m not sure if he’s going to make it back or not. He’s a wonderful horse, but every horse has a weakness. “

One of Mario’s best horses in training is Signatory. “He’s an unusual horse in that he’s a big gangly long striding horse who prefers the half-miler,” Mario added. “He won the Open at Freehold recently.”

Driver Richard Silverman, who is logging a lot of miles back and forth between Florida and New Jersey, has been busy readying the Silverman stable’s young stakes contenders for the season ahead.

“Glowing Report is strong, and she’ll be ready to qualify at the Meadowlands in a couple of weeks,” Silverman said. “I have a colt that I think will be a factor on the three-year-old scene this year. His name is Town Champion. He’s a colt by The Panderosa. I like The Panderosa so far. I wish I had a barn full of them. He’s matured quite a bit since last year. At two, he was four or five lengths from the top ones. He’d pace in 1:53, one time in 1:52.4 and he won his last start in, I believe, 1:54 flat. But, he’s come along very well and you’ll be hearing from him for sure.”

It has been 20 years since the baby-faced reinsman first tested the waters at the Meadowlands at the age of 19.
“It’s unbelievable it’s been 20 years now,” Silverman said.

“I remember driving in the Wilson in 1985 for a $1.5 million purse. I never got nervous when I was out there. Pre-race jitters, yes, but once I stepped onto the track, I forgot about that. I was kind of thrown into it out there.”