from Meadowlands Publicity Department

East Rutherford, NJ — Odds-on favorite Rocknroll Band regained his winning ways by capturing the first division of the first leg of the $25,000 Four Leaf Clover Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

Lisa photo

Southwestern Dream captured the second division of the Four Leaf Clover in 1:50.1.

Despite just a scratched-reduced field of five, Rocknroll Band and driver Dave Miller found themselves in a speed duel around the first turn as he and Haverford Hanover paced stride for stride through an opening quarter of 26.3. As the field entered the backstretch, Rocknroll Band [$3.80, $2.40, $2.10] cleared and continued gamely all the way to the wire to win in a career-best 1:50.1. Lookout Hanover [$3.00, $2.60] paced on strongly for second. Frog Juice [$3.00] was third.

The win was Rocknroll Band’s sixth victory of 2009 for owner Engel Stable.

Southwestern Dream paced strongly out of the gate, obtained the lead just as they hit the backstretch, and held on to capture the second division of the Four Leaf Clover in 1:50.1. Get Out Of Dodge [$4.00 $3.40] and It’s That Time [$7.00] battled down the stretch for the place position with Get Out Of Dodge prevailing. Southwestern Dream, with driver John Campbell, [$12.40 $4.80 $3.60] has now won 3 of 7 starts in 2009 for trainer Bruce Saunders. The Aquarius winner boosted his career earnings to more than $270,000 for owner Frank Bellino.

The Four Leaf Clover continues next Saturday with a $25,000 second leg.