from Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – July 16, 2004 – Windsong’s Legacy captured the $382,00 Stanley Dancer Trot in a stakes record equaling 1:53 flat while previously unbeaten Cantab Hall suffered his first career defeat in the featured seventh race on Friday night at the Meadowlands.

Cantab Hall, sent off as the 3-5 favorite, faded to fifth. The son of Self Possessed had won his first 12 career races but came up short in his 13th career start.

Windsong’s Legacy [$15.20, $6.40, $4.20] stamped himself as one of the three-year-old trotting colts to beat in the July 31 eliminations for the $1 million Hambletonian, which takes place on August 7 at the Meadowlands.

Cash Hall, who like Cantab Hall had won one of the two Dancer elims last week, broke stride at the start of the race and was never a factor.

“I heard the announcer say that Cash Hall made a break, I knew I was able to sit in longer with him [Cash Hall] out of the race,” said Trond Smedshammer, the Norwegian-born trainer and driver of Windsong’s Hall. “I was sitting back and enjoying it, sitting fifth or sixth while they [Cantab Hall and Tom Ridge] battled it out. Cantab Hall was struggling to clear. I don’t know if that horse was himself tonight. I was surprised how easily we cleared him [in the stretch].”

Windsong’s Legacy drew off to a three and a quarter length victory over Tom Ridge [$6.00, $3.40]. It was five and a quarter lengths to Al Dente Hanover [$11.00] in third.

Windsong’s Legacy closed from fifth at the top of the stretch to post his fourth win in five starts this year. He has now finished in the money in nine of 10 career outings.

“It’s better off in the long run to race horses that way [off the pace],” said Smedshammer. “A lot of trotters can go one long move but can’t be used twice. We had the big, big favorite last year [in the Hambletonian] with Power To Charm. Anything can happen. He’s danced every dance. He’s still a green horse. He’s still developing. He’s got a big shot.”

Windsong’s Legacy has now earned $364,324 for the ownership of Ann Jeannette of Norway and Ted Gewertz of New York City.

The 1:53 clocking equaled the stakes record set by Lindy Lane in 1996.

“I have no answers now,” said Ron Gurfein, who trains Cantab Hall, the Trotter of the Year in 2003. “There’s obviously something wrong with the horse. I don’t know anything now.”

Cash Hall, the 3-1 second choice, finished last.

“He just didn’t get on the gate, going up to the gate,” said his driver, John Campbell. “Having the 10-hole, he was looking around and not concentrating, which caused him to roll off. This is the greenness thing that we’ve been battling. The 10 hole just accentuated that.”

“The 10-hole was just not good for him,” agreed Bob McIntosh, the trainer of Cash Hall. “He was lollygagging around and looking from side to side. John couldn’t get him squared away. John couldn’t get his attention. He’s just a big growthy colt. I’ll probably school him, too. A positive thing about tonight is that we know he can race with any of them. The bad news is that he broke. They all seem to sort themselves out. He took a break early and wasn’t used so he’ll be fresh for the Hambletonian elims.”

PEACEFUL WAY WINS $325,000 MILLER IN STAKES RECORD 1:52.3

Lisa Photo

Peaceful Way won the $325,000 Delvin Miller Memorial for three-year-old trotting fillies in a stakes record time of 1:52.3.

Peaceful Way made a quick move to the lead down the backstretch and controlled the pace, winning the $325,000 Delvin Miller Memorial for three-year-old trotting fillies in a stakes record time of 1:52.3 in the fifth race on Friday night at the Meadowlands.

The daughter of Angus Hall was two-fifths of a second shy of the world record for three-year-old trotting fillies of 1:52.1 set by Continentalvictory at the Meadowlands in 1996 and smashed the stakes record of 1:54.2 shared by Syrinx Hanover [2001] and Cameron Hall [2002].

Peaceful Way finished six and a half lengths ahead of Housethatruthbuilt [$3.20, $2.20]. It was seven and a half lengths to Mystical Sunshine [$2.80] in third.

“I watched her last year, and she’d hitch and hike through the turns,” said John Campbell of the care he took with Peaceful Way through the first turn. “If she can handle it, I will. I didn’t want to get her stirred up and get her around the first turn okay. I felt she’d do the rest. She was just trotting off on her own [the second half]. She never seems to get tired, she’s among the top few in ability. If she stays healthy, she’ll compare favorably to the best fillies I’ve raced.”

This was Campbell’s second Miller winner. He captured the 2001 edition with Syrinx Hanover.

Peaceful Way did nearly all her racing at two in Ontario and was honored as Canada’s O’Brien winner as the top two-year-old trotting filly of 2003 with wins in eight of 10 starts.

“She’s as just as good as ever,” said David Tingley, the trainer and co-owner of Peaceful Way. “She has about the same attitude. She loves to race; she doesn’t much like to train. When she gets behind the gate she knows what she has to do.”

As good as she is, Tingley does not plan to try her against the colts in the Hambletonian.

“I think we’ll race against the girls and hope to have some luck in the Hambletonian Oaks,” he said.

The eliminations for the Hambletonian Oaks are on July 31 at the Meadowlands with the $500,000 final on August 7.

Peaceful Way, a $30,000 yearling purchase, now has career earnings of $908,726 for the partnership of Tingley, the Goin My Way Stable of Holland, Pennsylvania and Angie Stiller of Arva, Ontario.