from Meadowlands Media Relations
It has been a tough fall so far, but trainer Maria Lofgren is optimistic that her late-blooming trotter Lawrence can turn his luck around in the opening round of the Charles Singer Memorial Series on Friday, opening night of the 2004 fall harness meet, at the Meadowlands.
The fall harness meet runs through Saturday, December 18 with a Wednesday through Saturday night schedule. First race post time is 7:30 p.m.
Lawrence drew post eight in the evening’s second race, one of four $15,000 Singer divisions on the program. The three-week Singer series culminates in a $51,300 final to be held on Saturday, December 4.
The three-year-old son of Lindy Lane has had to battle sickness, tough trips and bad weather over the last few months. But despite those setbacks, he has shown some promise, earning two wins and one third in nine starts.
“We had the worst luck imaginable this fall,” Lofgren said. “He got sick in his last race at Lexington [on October 2]. I didn’t realize it before he raced, and he came up coughing and we scoped him afterwards and found out he was sick. Then we brought him to Canada and in his first start there, Luc Ouellette was driving him for the first time and crashed into the gate with him and he made a break. Then in his second start, there was a monsoon rain storm and we were eight minutes late getting to the paddock and they scratched him. Before that, he had really gotten it together. I had a lot of problems with him earlier in the year. He kept tying up and was hitting himself a bit. He was really starting to get it together before Lexington. He seems to have a lot of ability. And of course we drew post eight in an eight-horse field this week.”
Lawrence did not make his first career start until July and recorded his first victory in his third start, a conditioned race on August 29 at The Red Mile in Lexington.
“I purchased him as a yearling and he was not raced as a two-year-old,” she said. “His knees were sore and his joints weren’t developed. He does everything right in training. He’s a big stud, but you wouldn’t know it. He’s quiet and sweet. I took him to Gaitway to train yesterday and he just loved it. He has a few series ahead at the Meadowlands, so we’ll keep him there as a long as he is competitive.”
John Campbell has the driving assignment behind Lawrence, rated at 15-1 on the morning line, on Friday night.
“Luckily, John Campbell didn’t have anything in this race,” she said. “He qualified him for me in June at the Meadowlands and really liked him.”
Lofgren, 44, owns a private turnout farm in New Egypt, New Jersey and has three horses in training. Although her family owns a golf club in Monmouth County, Lofgren couldn’t dream of another career after her mom, Consuleo, introduced her to horse racing.
“Originally, I was interested in thoroughbreds and I always had riding horses,” she said. “My mom used to take me to Monmouth Park and I loved it. A friend of ours had standarbreds and after I jogged my first standardbred, I fell in love with it. I owned my first racehorse at 17 and took out my training license at 18.
“My whole family is in the golf business,” she continued. “We own Colonial Terrace Golf Club in Wanamassa [New Jersey]. And of course they wanted me to stay in the golf business – my dad is a retired golf pro. I’ve always been interested in breeding and racing, but I have a four-year-old daughter, Madison, so that’s slowed me down a little!”
2004 FALL STAKES SCHEDULE
Day, Date, Purse, E/G, Name of Race, Leg, Gait, Age/Sex
Fri, Nov. 19, $15,000 , G, Charles Singer Memorial, 1st, trot, 3yos
Sat, Nov. 20, $15,000 , G, Oil Burner, 1st, pace, 3yo c&g
Fri, Nov. 26, $15,000 , G, Charles Singer Memorial, 2nd, trot, 3yos
Fri, Nov. 26, $20,000 , G, Goldsmith Maid, Elims, trot, 2yo fillies
Fri, Nov. 26, $20,000 , G, Valley Victory, Elims, trot, 2yo c&g
Sat, Nov. 27, $15,000 , G, Oil Burner, 2nd, pace, 3yo c&g
Sat, Nov. 27, $20,000 , G, Governor’s Cup, Elims, pace, 2yo open
Sat, Nov. 27, $20,000 , G, Three Diamonds, Elims, pace, 2yo fillies
Wed, Dec. 1, $15,000 , G, Snow Angel, 1st, pace, 3yo fillies
Sat, Dec. 4, $60,000 , E, Oil Burner, Final, pace, 3yo c&g
Sat, Dec. 4, $51,300 , E, Charles Singer Memorial, Final, trot, 3yos
Sat, Dec. 4, $240,000 , E, Governor’s Cup, Final, pace, 2yo open
Sat, Dec. 4, $240,000 , E, Three Diamonds, Final, pace, 2yo fillies
Sat, Dec. 4, $240,000 , E, Goldsmith Maid, Final, trot, 2yo fillies
Sat, Dec. 4, $240,000 , E, Valley Victory, Final, trot, 2yo c&g
Wed, Dec. 8, $15,000 , G, Snow Angel, 2nd, pace, 3yo fillies
Wed, Dec. 15, $52,750 , E, Snow Angel, Final, pace, 3yo fillies
WDHA’S ROB MOORHEAD TO MAKE A STOP AT THE BIG M
Rob Moorhead of WDHA 101.5 FM, Jersey’s Own Rock Radio, will be making a special appearance on Friday night at the Meadowlands. He will be on the Paddock Level from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. greeting fans and giving out WDHA merchandise. Guests who visit the WDHA display will have a chance to enter a drawing to win a Weber Grill valued at $500.
Moorhead will also present the trophy to the winner of Friday night’s fifth race.
SAVOR THE WINES, SHMOOZE WITH THE WINEMASTER
Winemaster Ed Sbragia of Beringer Vineyards Hosts Dinner at Pegasus The Meadowlands Racetrack’s popular Pegasus Wine Tasting Series concludes on Friday, November 19, with a dinner hosted by Ed Sbragia, winemaster for Beringer Vineyards.
Sbragia will be on hand to discuss the wines he has hand-selected for the occasion and answer questions about the fine art of winemaking. Beringer Executive Chef Jerry Comfort has created a five-course dinner designed to perfectly complement Sbragia’s selections.
The featured wine selections are: Beringer Sparkling White Zinfandel, 2001 Beringer Sbragia Limited Release Chardonnay, Castello Di Gabbiano 1999 Alleanza, 2000 Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and 2000 Beringer Nightingale.
A complete menu can be viewed online at the Meadowlands’ web site, www.thebigm.com.
The cost of the dinner is $69.95 per person and includes racetrack admission and program. Tax and gratuity are not included. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 201-THE-BIGM.
Located on the penthouse level overlooking the New York skyline, Pegasus is a 2002-2003 recipient of Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence.