Contact: Lynne Snierson
603-898-2311 ext. 292
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 13, 2009
FIELD ALMOST DECIDED FOR
$30,000 NH SWEEPSTAKES FINAL NEXT SATURDAY
SALEM, NH-- A full field of nine accomplished
pacers will take center stage at Rockingham Park next Saturday (June 20) when
they battle in the track's signature race, the $30,000 New Hampshire Sweepstakes
Final, but only eight of the competitors were known after both of the $12,500
Eliminations were completed on Saturday (June 13).
Cactus Creek, the 3-5 favorite in the field of
eight in the first of two $12,500 eliminations, won his race handily by almost
four lengths in 1:52.2 on a fast track and definitely will be one of the early
favorites for the Final. Lover Boy Le Ru, a 21-1 upset winner in the second race
with a field of seven, had a tougher time earning his spot and had to come from
way back to cover the mile in 1:54.3 and finish one-and-one-quarter length
in front at the wire for driver-trainer Raymond Vizzi.
"I didn't think I had it won until half-way down
the stretch," said Vizzi. "He's a very lazy horse and I had to hit him (with the
whip). But once he gets into it, he's all business and in that last quarter, he
gave me all he had."
Lover Boy Le Ru, a six-year-old gelding owned by
Steve Stabile, paid $44.80, $8.80, and $6.80 and keyed a $289.20 perfecta
with 50-1 shot Golden Mattjesty and a $1,730.20 trifecta with third place
finisher and 5-1 choice Arid N. Town Attack, the 2-1 favorite in this race, set
the early pace but faded through the stretch to finish a well beaten
last.
PH Bestman, dispatched as the 4-5 favorite in that
elimination, crossed under the wire in 5th place and thus should have missed the
Final, which is limited to the top four horses in each elimination
plus only one fifth place horse from the fastest of the two races.
But PH Bestman, driven by Richard Wojcio, will get
into next Saturday's race because the fifth place finisher of the other but
faster elimination, Paper Luck, is owned by the same connections as Golden
Mattjesty and the conditions of the Final prohibit common ownership of any two
horses in the field. So now owners James and Jane Devlin and Joseph Edwards must
decide which of their two stablemates, Paper Luck or Golden Mattjesty, will
compete for the trophy next week.
The pacers who are definite for the $30,000 Final
are Cactus Creek, Mata Harry, Manchine, Freedoms Call, Lover Boy Le Ru,
Arid N, Mr. Nice Guy, and PH Bestman.
No matter whether its Golden Mattjesty or Paper
Luck completing the field, the owner of Cactus Creek, the six-year-old
gelded son of Artsplace who boosted his career earnings to over $461,000
with the win, likes the chances of his horse next
Saturday.
"You could say that I was born under a lucky
star," Reginald Duguay said. "This horse was sold for over $200,000 two
years ago and I bought him at a sale for $12,000 just 14 weeks ago. What I
liked about him is that he set a world record as a three-year-old in a
preliminary for the Little Brown Jug and won the Adios. I guess I have a star on
my forehead. I once bought a filly for $4,000 and she won $69,000 in a
year."
Both Golden Mattjesty and Paper Luck are driven by
David Ingraham, who was victorious in two races on Saturday to go
along with the four he won on Friday at Rockingham, and trained by Kelly Case.
Ingraham, who won back-to-back top driver honors here in 2005-06, has
jumped out to an early lead in the driver's standings with five days of the meet
in the books.
Live racing resumes on Sunday, with 10 races and
post time of 1:05 PM. Sunday is also the last day of Rockingham's free season
pass giveaway with every paid admission over 18. Full card simulcasting from all
of the top Thoroughbred, harness, and greyhound tracks are available seven days
and nights per week from noon until midnight.
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