from Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – January 29, 2005 – Great Expense [$23.00, $8.80, $4.20] exploded in the stretch with a four-wide move and paced a stakes record 1:50.2 to win the fifth race, the $90,000 Clyde Hirt Final on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

It was a half-length back to Armbro Becalm [$6.80, $5.80] in second and three-quarters of a length to Shu Hanover [$3.20] in third.

Great Expense picked up his first win in four starts this year and bumped his career bankroll up to $152,143.

“He was good,” said Daniel Dube, the driver of Great Expense. “He was so good last week. He’s a real good closer. He finishes strong. Mark [trainer Mark Silva] has been getting him better and better each week. It was good in the last turn that I came out because Ronnie’s horse [Ron Pierce with Francam] was stopping. I got luck, and I got through.”

“In the last turn he got jammed up, and I thought it was over,” said trainer Mark Silva, who won the Hirt last year with Iron Legend. “I didn’t think he’d be able to recover. Ronnie’s horse [Ron Pierce with Francam] was stopping and Sears’ [Brian Sears with Master This] was getting away.

“Cliff Siegel bought him back at the Harrisburg Sale in November and then sold him in January to Randy Zane [of Blainville, Quebec],” Silva explained. “I hope he leaves him with me for the Exit 16W [Series at the Meadowlands, starting February 11]. Then he goes to Canada for the Cam Fella Series.”

Wagering on the sixth race, the second leg of the Presidential Series, benefited the American Red Cross International Response for tsunami victims. The Meadowlands and the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association donated their commission, which came to $26,737.

Life Source [$8.80, $6.00, $3.00], driven by George Brennan, won the $50,000 Presidential prelim by three lengths over the pacesetting Make It Brief [$10.20, $3.40] in 1:50.1. Eaton Road Kill [$2.20] was third by four and three-quarter lengths. The top 10 money winners in the series will return for the $108,660 final on February 5.

“I am very happy wit the way he raced tonight,” said Richard Banca, who trains Life Source for his father, Richard T. Banca of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey. “The trip worked out for him. He seemed real good this week. He’s been good ever since we started off this year. I just kept everything the same with him since he was so good last year. He’s paid for everything but we’ll play it by ear.”

Banca’s big night included a victory with Rare Jewel [$8.40, $5.60, $3.40] in the $95,000 Complex Final, the eighth race.

Rare Jewel, driven by Brian Sears and owned by Norman Vartanian of Hamilton, Ontario, paced the mile in 1:51.1, scoring a length and three-quarter victory over JK Royal Flush [$3.80, $2.80]. It was two and a half lengths to Nightmareonelm [$5.40] in third.

“He is a gifted colt,” said Sears. “He carries his speed real well. At the three-quarters he was handling things real good and paced home. By the way he is gaited and how he gets over the ground, he can be a real nice horse.”

Rare Jewel, a four-year-old son of Artiscape, broke at the start of the first leg of the Complex and finished fifth. Last week, he won a second leg division.

“He was a little eager that night [when he broke in the first leg],” Sears said. “He touched the gate and went off. It was one of those nights [in the second leg] when nobody wanted to be on the front end. I got him up close and moved him first over around the back.”

Rare Jewel has now earned $165,415 lifetime.