from Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – March 13, 2005 — Mohammed Mali [$2.60, $2.20, $2.40] extended his winning streak to seven when he held on for a nose victory over Hurri Kane Billy G [$3.60, $4.60] in the $99,300 Horse & Groom Final, the sixth race on Sunday afternoon at the Meadowlands.

The five-year-old gelded son of Malabar Man trotted the mile in a stakes record time of 1:54.1.

HZ Easy [$3.00] got up for third by a half-length.

David Miller moved Mohammed Mali to the lead at the half and then settled in to fend off the challenges that came from HZ Easy and the late charging Hurri Kane Billy G.

The victory pushed Mohammed Mali’s career earnings to $144,190 for the partnership of the D’Elegance Stable [Victor and Joseph Leonardis] of Florham Park, New Jersey; Carmen Iannacone of Lyndhurst, New Jersey and the RCE Stable [John and Lamia Guarniere] of Princeton, New Jersey.

A $60,000 yearling purchase, Mohammed Mali was unraced at two, had only three disappointing starts at three and was put through the Tattersalls Sale in July of 2003 by the original ownership, which included D’Elegance.

“He only brought $21,000 and my father [Joseph] bought him back because he felt we couldn’t let him go for that amount,” said Victor Leonardis. “My father deserves the credit because he’s the one who kept pushing along with him. We knew the talent was always there and got a new group together.”

Last year the half-brother to 2001 Hambletonian winner Scarlet Knight won four of six starts. This year has reached the winner’s circle in seven of eight tries.

The race schedule for Mohammed Mali, who is trained by Mark Harder, includes two additional Meadowlands series, the Father Foley [April 17, April 24 and May 1] and the Hiram Woodruff [May 8, May 15 and May 22] along with two free for all stakes, the Cutler Memorial on May 21 [eliminations on May 13] and the Titan Cup on July 2 [eliminations on June 24].

RICHEST PACER, GALLO BLUE CHIP, RETIRED

Gallo Blue Chip, the richest pacer of all-time, is hanging up his harness.

Trainer Mark Ford and owner Martin Scharf of Lawrence, New York, made the decision after the eight-year-old gelding finished seventh in a non-winners of $10,000 condition pace on Saturday [March 12] at Freehold.

Gallo Blue Chip is the richest pacer of all time with earnings of $4,260,959.

“I want it to be known that physically he is fine,” said Ford. “He is just older, lost a few steps. We don’t want to do anything to cheapen him, and we are looking into the real possibility of getting him into Kentucky Horse Park.”

Currently there are two standardbreds residing at the Kentucky Horse Park, 1993 Horse of the Year Staying Together and 1997 Triple Crown winning pacer Western Dreamer. The other occupants of the Hall of Champions are thoroughbreds Cigar, John Henry and Da Hoss and American five-gaited saddlebred Gypsy Supreme.

Gallo Blue Chip, the gelded son of Magical Mike, retires with a stable full of honors and accomplishments. He was the 2000 Horse of the Year and won a pair of million-dollar stakes that year, the North American Cup and the Meadowlands Pace.

Gallo Blue Chip wraps up his racing career with 53 wins, 19 seconds and nine thirds from 133 starts. His last win was in his final start at the Meadowlands on February 26, 2005.

AROUND THE MEADOWLANDS FOR MARCH 13, 2005

Sagebrush’s win in 1:49 on Saturday night in the tenth race $47,500 open was the fastest mile of the year and the fastest time anywhere in the month of March.

Art’s Cam, whose winning streak was snapped at six on Saturday night, was pulled up in the seventh race. “He flipped his palate,” said Toni Rose, assistant to trainer Chris Oakes. “It was sort of a fluky thing. He’ll likely miss a week or two.”

C The Priest has been retired to Heidi Weber’s farm in Ware, New Hampshire to enjoy life as a riding horse, according to trainer Art Unger. “My owner, Ted Gewertz, agreed that it was time to find him a good home,” said Unger. C The Priest, a nine-year-old son of Albatross, retires with 16 wins, 13 seconds and 12 thirds from 142 starts and earnings of $183,671. A popular horse among the clergy, he made his last pari-mutuel start on June 24, 2004, finishing ninth at the Meadowlands.