from Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – July 27, 2006 – Michelle’s Angel, Gerri’s Joy and Chez Lucie each won their $20,000 elimination races on Thursday night, which set the field for the $537,000 Merrie Annabelle Final for two-year-old trotting fillies on August 3 at the Meadowlands.

In the first division, first race, Michelle’s Angel [$9.40, $2.10, $2.10], driven by Ron Pierce and trained by Richard Norman, held off a late-surging Possess the Magic [$2.10, $2.10] by a nose, tying her lifetime best of 1:57.4. Ironmaid Volo [$2.10, $2.10] finished another length and a half back in third.

Sent off as a 1-5 favorite, Possess the Magic broke stride around the first turn, but managed to regroup and narrowly missed extending her win streak to five.

Owned by Jeffrey Snyder of New York, New York, Michelle’s Angel has won the first two starts of her young career.

Longshot Gerri’s Joy [$53.60, $20.80, $8.20] captured the second division, second race in 1:58.2, her first career win in three starts. Driven by David Miller and trained by Remi Jensen, Gerri’s Joy tipped off cover in the stretch and sprinted to the wire, holding off Clever Catch [$7.00, $5.20] by a nose. Fuego [$3.60] was third by one a three-quarter lengths.

A daughter of Enjoy Lavec-C C Jennifer P, Gerri’s Joy is owned by Nicholas Cimino of Pompano Beach, Florida.

Chez Lucie [$6.60, $4.80, $3.50] utilized a perfect pocket trip to win the third division, third race in a lifetime best 1:58. Chez Lucie, driven by David Miller and trained by George Ducharme, was first over around the final turn before drawing off to a half-length victory over Cash Cow [$8.60, $4.60]. Flight Surgeon [$3.40] was another two lengths back in third. Four fillies broke before the start, essentially making it a three-horse race.

Chez Lucie, a daughter of Malabar Man-Sandra Victory, won her second race in three starts. She is owned by Paul Fontaine of Woonsocket, Rhode Island and Alfred Ross of South Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

The top three finishers of each elimination advance to the $537,00 Merrie Annabelle Final on August 3. A draw will determine which of the two fastest fourth place finishers, Enjoy N My Lady and Celebrity Speedie, will race in the final.