from the Meadowlands Publicity Department

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – March 13, 2004 – Sagebrush [$3.80, $3.00, $2.80] rolled to his second straight victory in the fourth race, the first of two $25,000 divisions of the Four Leaf Clover Series, on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

The five-year-old son of Western Hanover paced the mile in 1:51.2 and established himself as the likely favorite in the $120,000 Four Leaf Clover Final on March 20.

Daniel Dube guided Sagebrush to the lead before the half and coasted home to a two-length victory over Beecher Park [$7.20, $6.00], who edged out Iron Legend [$5.80] in third.

Trained by Ken Rucker, Sagebrush was purchased by Rucker and Martin Engel of Buffalo Grove, Illinois, at the Meadowlands Sale on January 20, 2003 for $70,000. He went on to win the Clyde Hirt Series at the Meadowlands five days later. He now has 18 wins, six seconds and eight thirds from 57 career starts for earnings of $299,650.

Image of Dawn, a first round winner and the 5-2 second choice, finished fifth.

“He was very good tonight but he was just in a bad spot with terribly slow fractions,” said Patrick Lachance, who both drives and trains Image of Dawn. “He had terrible cover, and it just didn’t work out for him tonight.”