from Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – July 2, 2004 – Fool’s Goal [$4.00, $3.00, $2.80] battled back in the final strides to capture the $200,000 Titan Cup by a head over Cosington [$13.60, $8.00] on Friday night at the Meadowlands.

It marked the third time in the last four years that Fool’s Goal has won the Titan Cup for free for all trotters. He covered the mile in 1:53.2, picking up his 32nd win in 98 career starts.

Fool’s Goal dueled with Mr Muscleman from the half on but as that one broke stride and faded, he was challenged by Cosington and Elegant Man [$4.80] who was third by a neck in the three-way photo.

“There were a few of them busting out of there,” said winning driver Jack Moiseyev. “I would have liked the front but Ronnie Pierce [with Mr Muscleman] had different thoughts. It didn’t really matter to me, but through the stretch I was concerned. He [Fool’s Goal] was beaten, but he eyed them and kept going. He’s the one that is game.”

“He flipped his palate again,” said Ron Pierce of Mr Muscleman.

“We had Jack [Moiseyev with Fool’s Goal] right where we wanted, and my horse just ran out of air.”

The winner’s share of $100,000 lifted Fool’s Goal’s career earnings to $2,863,180 for Bruce McElven of Pemberton, New Jersey and Ron Allen of Southampton, New Jersey.

Fool’s Goal, a two-time Breeders Crown winner and Older Trotter of the Year in 2002, made won his first two Titan Cup appearances in 2001 and 2002. He set the stakes record of 1:51.3 in 2002. Last year, he was second to Kadabra.

Unbeaten Cantab Hall [$2.40, $2.20, $2.10], the 2003 Trotter of the Year, scored a length and a quarter victory over Tom Ridge [$3.20, $2.10] in the sixth race, the second of two $52,686 Historic-Dickerson Cup divisions, showcasing some of the top three-year-old trotters in training.

Cantab Hall, a perfect 10 for 10 at two, extended his winning streak to 11 with a lifetime best of 1:54.

“He was very good for his first start,” said winning driver Mike Lachance. “I didn’t have to use him hard in the race. I am happy that I didn’t have to race against Cash Hall tonight. It was his first start and overall I’m happy. He’s good, and I hope he’ll stay this way. It was the first start of the year for both of them [Tom Ridge and Cantab Hall], and they both raced good. I was more concerned about not brutalizing my horse tonight since it was only his first start. I didn’t have to and I’m happy about that.” “The show is on,” proclaimed Ron Gurfein, trainer of Cantab Hall.

“It’s one of those hard tracks [after early showers] that I’d rather not race him on. But he got an easy trip. Mike said he darted from something [on the first turn]. He’s not sure what. It’s more pressure to remain undefeated. But it’s the pressure I’d rather have than not.

Cash Hall is a very nice horse. But what makes me happy is that they’re both by Self Possessed [one of Gurfein’s three Hambletonian winners].”

Cantab Hall has banked $487,680 for the partnership of the Brittany Farms of Versailles, Kentucky; Lindy Racing Stable of Enfield, Connecticut; Jerry Silva of Bellmore, New York and Sampson Street Stables of Old Forge, Pennsylvania.

Rocky Balboa [$2.10] finished third, four and three-quarter lengths back.

Runner-up Tom Ridge, driven by Ron Pierce and trained by Jimmy Takter, now has a career record of six wins and two seconds in nine starts.

“For his first start he was real good,” Pierce said of Tom Ridge. “We floated out to the top on the first turn, and he relaxed on the front. Cantab Hall came up, and we sat on his back. Both had a good breather in the race. He [Tom Ridge] didn’t quite get there in the end, but it was only his first start. He raced real good and was good gaited.”

In the fifth race, the first of the two Historic-Dickerson Cups, Cash Hall smashed the stakes record with a 1:52.4 clocking.

Cash Hall [$3.80, $2.40, $2.40] won by three and a half lengths over Show Me The Monet [$3.00, $2.40]. It was five and a quarter lengths back to 75-1 Sky Watch [$4.80] in third.

John Campbell put Cash Hall on the lead on the turn for home and coasted with a 28.4 final panel for the Self Possessed colt’s third win in six starts this year.

Game of Skill set the previous stakes record of 1:54 in 2002.

“He certainly didn’t get out of the gate as well as he is going to have to,” said Campbell. “But after that, he’s all business. He trotted a huge mile tonight. He certainly has the talent. But we are going to have to get him more seasoned quickly.”

The three-year-old trotter races for trainer Robert McIntosh, CSX Stables of Liberty Center, Ohio and Michael P. Kohler of Sterling Heights, Michigan.

The colts have the elims for the Stanley Dancer Trot next Friday as they continue down the road to the $1 million Hambletonian on August 7.