from Meadowlands Media Relations

East Rutherford, NJ — December 11, 2004 – Make It Brief [$3.20, $2.20, $2.10] made quick work of the $40,000 open pace, the fifth race on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

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Make It Brief held off the challenge of Life Source to win the $40,000 open pace by neck in 1:49.2.

The 3-5 favorite brushed to the lead on the backstretch and held off the challenge of Life Source [$2.40, $2.10] to win by neck in 1:49.2, a fifth of a second off of his lifetime best.

St George Island [$2.10] got up for third by four and a quarter lengths.

Since Odds On Racing of Crete, Illinois acquired Make It Brief on November 21, the pacer has won both of us starts at the Meadowlands. He now has seven wins in 21 starts this year and has 14 wins, eight seconds and six thirds from 52 career starts for a bankroll of $497,350.

“He’s in great form right now,” said winning driver John Campbell. “He’s just very good. It’s hard to believe this horse went in 49.2 this time of the year.”

Trainer Robin Schadt acquired the four-year-old privately from Robert McIntosh and is pointing him toward the Presidential Series at the Meadowlands in January.

“I had been watching him at Woodbine,” said Schadt. “He caught my eye. He has nice size, was lightly raced, and protected at four, a good formula for a successful five-year-old campaign, particularly as a winter time free for all horse, [and] for a quick return on our investment.”

The son of Camluck has earned $40,000 in his last two starts.

Pair to have a showdown in the Snow Angel Series Final

Preliminary round winners Heavenly Sign and Madeira Island will meet in the $52,500 Snow Angel Series Final on this coming Wednesday night at the Meadowlands.

The Snow Angel, for 3-year-old pacing fillies, will kick off the final week of the 2004 fall harness meet, which will end on Saturday, December 18.

Because of a New York Giants football game that afternoon, first race post time on December 18 will be delayed until 8:35 p.m. (EST), and the gates will open at 6:45 p.m. The Meadowlands will open its 2005 harness meet on Friday, January 7.

Heavenly Sign, who has won eight of 20 starts this year, will enter the Snow Angel Final, Wednesday night’s sixth race, on a three race winning streak. She has been installed as the 8-5 morning line favorite and will leave from post position two, with Ron Pierce driving. Trained by Nat Varty, the daughter of Life Sign has captured both of her preliminary Snow Angels starts, and paced a personal best of 1:51¹ last week.

Heavenly Sign was bred by her owners, Peter Congilose of Toms River, N.J. and Jay Scheiner of Fort Lee, N.J.

Madeira Island has also captured both of her preliminary divisions in the series and will leave from post position three with Brian Sears in her sulky. She is 5-1 on the morning line.

The daughter of Island Fantasy has a record of four wins, two seconds, and two thirds in 17 starts, and the Chicago shipper is owned by Nancy and Donald Musillami of La Grange, Ill.

“We have only had her for about three weeks,” said Al Meyers, who trains the Ken Rucker Stable’s New Jersey contingent, including Madeira Island. “She tries real hard and trains real well. She likes to get a trip on the track. I don’t think she might have as much as Heavenly Sign, but hopefully she’ll get in the right spot and get a nice check, or get lucky and win it all.

“Ken (Rucker) is from Chicago and her owner Don Musillami, who is also her trainer, is from Chicago,” Meyer said. “He trains in Chicago, and they sent her out to us to race her here. She will go back after she makes lots of money out here. She is a real nice mare. She is well-mannered and does everything you ask her to do.” Here’s the field:

The Snow Angel Series Final – Purse $52,500
PP – Horse – Driver – Trainer – ML
1 – Follow Your Bliss – Ron Pierce – Mark Silva – 8-1
2 – Heavenly Sign – Ron Pierce – Nat Varty – 7-5
3 – Madeira Island – Brian Sears – Ken Rucker – 5-1
4 – Not Aday Goes By – Brian Sears – Steve LeBlanc – 20-1
5 – Queen OTRA – Cat Manzi – Jeff Stafford – 8-1
6 – Shakeitupamy – Daniel Dube – Richard Banca – 15-1
7 – Spirit of The West – John Campbell – Ed Lohmeyer – 15-1
8 – Theresa Hall – John Campbell – Bruce Riegle – 10-1
9 – Fairy Tale Merit – Yannick Gingras – Mark Harder – 15-1
10 – Female Champs – Cat Manzi – Brett Pelling – 4-1

Meadowlands recaps the best of 2004

Fans will be able to experience the year’s most heart-stopping finishes one more time by watching the Meadowlands Racetrack’s Best of 2004, a half-hour special to be seen on Fox Sports Net on Saturday, December 18, at 1 a.m. (EST).

Meadowlands racing analysts Dave Brower and Bob Heyden will take a look back at the year’s most memorable moments — and find out who dominated, who disappointed, and who may be poised for superstardom.

The program will immediately follow the half-hour Racing From the Meadowlands replay show, which will air that night at 12:30 a.m.