by Nick Salvi, executive director, The Classic Series

Vernon, NY — The first of three preliminary legs of The Classic Series (TCS) will be raced at Dover Downs on Monday, April 9. All four TCS 2006 final winners will compete on Monday’s card.

The first of two Classic Oaks divisions kicks off the action in race two, led by last year’s TCS final and Breeders Crown winner Mystical Sunshine. The career winner of nearly $1.5 million for Alvin Jacobson and Sidney Korn leaves from post one for Ron Pierce.

The Oaks also marks the return to stakes action for John Campbell, who recently returned to racing after an injury. John is listed on mounts in three Classic events on Monday.

The Trotting Classic fields six, led by Vivid Photo, who annexed TCS final in this division in 2006. He has also drawn the coveted rail for trainer/driver Roger Hammer, who shares ownership of the 2005 Hambletonian winner with Todd Schadel.

Local star Elvis Cole, a supplemental nomination to the series, will contest the action for young reinsman Corey Callahan.

Boulder Creek looks to pick up where he left off last November, when he lowered the world record for 1-1/4 miles in the Pacing Classic final over this same strip. The career winner of over $2.6 million will have to overcome a second tier start, as he has drawn post ten behind the eight horse mobile starting gate on Monday for owners Cliff Siegel, John Fodera and Lee Wasserman.

2006 Meadowlands Pace winner Artistic Fella makes his first start of the season in the Classic. He comes in with a single qualifier under his belt, albeit an impressive performance of 1:52.1 at The Meadowlands.

The second Oaks split features last year’s sophomore Breeders Crown winner Susie’s Magic. She won her 2007 debut in a sparkling 1:54.3 for owners L&L Devisser, LLC and William Jones.

Lavec Dream was second in the 2008 TCS final and returns to the series in this event.

The Classic Distaff has provided some of the most memorable races in the series over the past several years and appears to be stocked to continue the trend. Marnie Hall makes her 2007 debut in defense of her TCS final in the division. She was a good second to Artistic Fella in her most recent prep for Daniel Plouffe and new partner Jean Claude Dessureault.

Burning Point is back again after more Classic gold and Poppy Lustre N has been nothing short of sensational locally in 2007. Sensational enough for her connections to pay the supplemental fee to include the New Zealand bred in the Distaff.

First post at Dover is 5:30 p.m. on Monday. More details are available at www.theclassicseries.com.