from the Meadowlands Publicity Department

East Rutherford, NJ — Snow White’s fairytale season thrust trainer Kevin Lare into the national spotlight in 2007, a success story that could grow as he takes over the reins on another divisional champion.

Lare recently added Southwind Tempo, the 2007 3-Year-Old Filly Pacer of the Year, to his barn. Jerry Silva of Long Beach, N.Y., purchased the Dan Patch Award winner last week as part of a three-horse package that totaled $1 million. She makes her debut as a 4-year-old in the $50,000 opening round of the Overbid Series on Friday night (March 7) at the Meadowlands. She is rated the 9-5 morning line favorite in race three, the first of the two Overbid divisions on the card.

Southwind Tempo was a bargain yearling purchase developed by Lare’s stepbrother, Toby Lynch, Jr.

“Southwind Tempo came into my barn last Thursday, and I’ve known she was a top mare,” Lare said. “Toby is my half-brother, so I obviously had an inside scoop. I would say she’s one of the best $3,500 purchases to come along in awhile.”

Last year, Southwind Tempo won 16 of 21 starts and $863,604. She strung together a 10-race streak as she won 12 of her first 13 starts. However, she was the beaten favorite in the Mistletoe Shalee, Fan Hanover, Jugette and Breeders Crown finals.

“I didn’t really follow those races that closely, but I just think things didn’t work out,” Lare noted. “She did show blazing speed, like a :25.3 first quarter at Freehold (en route to winning the $144,325 Shady Daisy).

“I’ll pretty much manage her the same way she was and she’s paid into all of the major stakes,” he continued. “She’s push-button to me right now. I trained her the other day and she’s got so much class. I’ve had some nice open pacing mares like Movie Magic and Ann Other Porsche, and this mare has that extra, exceptional gear.”

Lare, 38, lives in Viola, Delaware, and trains at Gateway Farm in nearby Harrington. After two decades in the sport, he has made a whirlwind transition from a dominant overnight presence in his home state to a highly regarded stakes trainer. Though Lare’s earnings averaged more than $1 million each of the past six years, they soared to a career best $2,569,324 in 2007. His success was fueled by Snow White, who became the fastest (1:52.4) and richest ($1,252,646) 2-year-old filly trotter in history.

“If you had asked me about five years ago if I’d be in the baby game (training and racing young horses), I’d have said you were crazy,” he said. “I’ve always had a couple and sold them all because you can’t afford to turn it down. If you told me people would come up with a half-million after Snow White’s second baby race, I’d have looked at you cross-eyed. But the game has changed. This year I have 12 babies and it’s a pretty decent looking group.

“It could be a very interesting year, but it could take one more good year for me to feel secure about things,” he continued. “I owe a lot to Jerry Silva for giving me the opportunity to have a horse like Southwind Tempo and he told me he’s not done. He’s not looking for claimers and neither am I. I’d really like to stick with the higher end, and I’m lucky a guy like Jerry is willing to give me that chance. I don’t want to disappoint him. Many of the big owners are set with their trainers and aren’t moving. I know nobody is interested in a one-hit wonder. I’ve got to show up year after year. All I can do is work hard and play it by ear.”

Lare’s superstar is back in training and he is looking forward to making a run with her at harness racing’s greatest prize, the $1.5 million Hambletonian on August 2 at the Meadowlands.

“Snow White has been in 2:30,” he said. “She’s super, bigger, very strong and doing everything she should do. We’re certainly hoping for the best. Where are we going? I’ll let you know in July when we’re dropping her in to go. We want to be in the Hambletonian.”

His next trotting champion may already be waiting in the wings.

“I have Snow White’s 2-year-old, half-brother by Tom Ridge who I bought for $25,000,” he said. “There was a contest (run by Hoof Beats Magazine) and the winner’s new name for him is Priceless Prince. We picked that out over some 600 names submitted. He’s been in 2:28 and he looks great. He’s stocky and looks the part.”