from the Meadowlands Publicity Department

East Rutherford, NJ — The $225,480 Berry’s Creek on Saturday night at the Meadowlands would be a “berry” good spot for Realiscape to break his maiden.

The first major stakes race of the season for three-year-old pacers, the Berry’s Creek is slated as the sixth race of the evening. Realiscape has drawn post four and is listed at 12-1 on the morning line with Ron Pierce in the sulky.

In the $25,000 Berry’s Creek Prep, Realiscape closed with a :27-second final quarter over a track rated “good” and emerged fourth out of a blanket photo finish behind the winner, Jenna’s Choice. Jenna’s Choice will miss the final due to a stress fracture, making for a wide open Berry’s Creek.

“It was his first start after two easy qualifiers,” trainer Ross Croghan said. “I am pleased with his effort. He is still a maiden and hopefully he wins a race pretty soon.”

In his first major stakes test last September, Realiscape finished second in a Metro elimination at Woodbine while racing for his previous owner and trainer, Sam DePinto. Croghan and Eric Cherry, who races as Let It Ride Stable, purchased the colt from DePinto prior to the Metro Final, but he was never in the hunt and finished tenth. Croghan then shipped Realiscape to Freehold for his last start before a lengthy turnout, the Lou Babic, in which he finished sixth. The son of Artiscape ended the season with a record of three seconds and a third from nine starts and $16,220 in earnings.

“He was second in the (Metro) elimination but came up (tenth) in the final,” Croghan said. “He was sick. We bought him for some stakes at Freehold, and he didn’t handle the track well so we decided to turn him out. I liked him a lot last year. He had some good races as a two-year-old. He wasn’t staked heavily. I bought him more for this year, his three-year-old season. He is a nice, big strong horse.”

A minor setback this winter left Realiscape with only time for two qualifiers prior to last week’s Berry’s Creek Prep.

“He is three weeks behind schedule right now,” Croghan said. “He was training down in Florida and got a paddock injury. It took two to three weeks to heal so he is late getting started. He got a cut on his leg in the field. I think his back left. He probably kicked a fence or something.”

Realiscape was nominated to the $500,000 SBOA New Jersey Classic, the sport’s richest state-bred race, on May 28, and the track’s signature event, the $1 million Meadowlands Pace, on July 16.

“He is still eligible for the Meadowlands Pace but it is hard to say,” Croghan said. “We will know better in two weeks.”

Croghan has had four previous Berry’s Creek starters. His closest finish was with Mattuity, who lost by a nose to Resurgent Dragon in 1998. He also sent out By A Length (sixth in 2000), He Wants It All (second in 2003) and The Globe (tenth in 2003).

The post position draw for the Berry’s Creek, Saturday’s sixth race:

PP, Horse, Driver, Trainer, ML
1, Michael’s Marvel, David Miller, Mark Harder, 8-1
2, Mystic Gold, Cat Manzi, Trevor Warwick, 15-1
3, Mega Hall, Brian Sears, Randy Bendis, 15-1
4, Realiscape, Ron Pierce, Ross Croghan, 12-1
5, Pat’s All Star, Mike Lachance, Ray Allen, 7-2
6, Jo Pa’s Shark, George Brennan, Mark Harder, 8-1
7, Odds On Duane, John Campbell, Robin Schadt, 9-2
8, Four Starz Sisco, Eric Ledford, Dave Sabatelli, 5-2
9, Failsafe Hall, George Brennan, Steve Elliott, 12-1
10, With Anticipation, Patrick Berry, Norm Parker, 10-1

Rainbow Blue is back

Rainbow Blue, the 2004 Horse of the Year, makes her return to the Meadowlands in Friday night’s fifth race, a $42,500 mares open.

Driven by Ron Pierce and trained by George Teague, Jr., Rainbow Blue will be making her third start of the year and has been installed as the 4-5 morning line favorite in the field of six.

Thus far this year, she has won a mares invitational on April 11 and the first round of the Classic Series on April 18, both at Dover Downs.

The four-year-old daughter of Artiscape has now won 28 of 30 career starts, earning $1,365,184 for the ownership of K&R Racing LLC and Teague Inc., both of Houston, Delaware.

Rainbow Blue currently carries a 10-race winning streak, suffering her only loss of 2004 in the Mistletoe Shalee Final at the Meadowlands on August 7.

Her Meadowlands stakes stops this year will include the $200,000 (est.) Lady Liberty on June 17 (elims on June 10), the prelim (July 23) and $250,000 final (July 30) of the Classic Series and the $175,000 Golden Girls on August 6.

The field for Friday’s mares open (from the rail out): Apple Krisp, John Campbell, 10-1; Glowing Report, David Miller, 4-1; R Burning Desire, Jim Morrill, Jr., 12-1; Rainbow Blue, Ron Pierce, 4-5; Carolina Sunshine, Brian Sears, 5-1; and Artbitration, Patrick Berry, 9-2.

Sign up for the 2005 Championship Meet Survival Challenge

Enrollment for the Big M 2005 Championship Meet Survival Challenge begins Wednesday on the Meadowlands website, www.thebigm.com/survival. The enrollment application will be “live” by 5:00 p.m. May 4.

The free online handicapping contest will run from May 28 – August 6 (Hambletonian Day). Each day participants choose one horse in each of three designated races. To “survive” and continue to the next day in the contest, at least one of the three selections must finish first, second or third. Contestants accumulate a “virtual” bankroll based on $2 win, place and show wagers on each selection.

Prizes will be awarded for highest total bankroll, and there will be bonus awards for most number of winners and most three-for-three winning days.

The grand prize is $2,000 and entry into the 2006 National Harness Handicapping Championship at the Meadowlands (includes airfare and hotel accommodations). The second place prize is $500 and a 20-inch Sharp Electronics flat-screen television. Third prize is $250 plus a Sharp Electronics viewcam. The bonus award for most number of winners as well as for most three-for-three winner days is $500 and a Sharp mini stereo.

The complete rules for the Championship Meet Survival Challenge are available on the Meadowlands web site, www.thebigm.com and may be accessed either from the Handicapping drop-down menu on the homepage or found directly at www.thebigm.com/survival.