from Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – December 8, 2004 – Madeira Island [$17.40, $6.40, $3.00] rallied from off the pace to win the seventh race, the first of two $15,000 Snow Angel divisions, on Wednesday night at the Meadowlands.

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Madeira Island rallied for a three-quarter-length victory over Fairy Tale Merit in a lifetime best of 1:52 in the first of two $15,000 Snow Angel divisions.

Stephen Smith guided the three-year-old daughter of Island Fantasy to a three-quarter-length victory over Fairy Tale Merit [$47.40, $13.40] in a lifetime best of 1:52 flat for the mile. Queen OTRA [$3.80], who cut the fractions, held on for third, a length and a quarter back.

Madeira Island, trained by Ken Rucker and owned by Nancy and Donald Musillami of LaGrange, Illinois, now has four wins, two seconds and two thirds from 17 starts this year.

In the second division, carded as the ninth race, 3-5 Heavenly Sign [$3.40, $2.40, $2.20] coasted to a four and a half length victory over Female Champs [$2.80, $2.60] in 1:51.1. Tawny [$7.80] was third by six and three quarters.

Ron Pierce guided Heavenly Sign to her third straight win, eighth in 20 starts this year. The Nat Varty trainee races for Peter Congilose of Toms River, New Jersey and Jay Scheiner of Fort Lee, New Jersey.

The $52,750 Snow Angel Final is on Wednesday, December 15.