Connors Memorial at Hazel Park draws 16

June 26, 2008

The Charlie Norris-trained entry of Twin B Caviar and Foggy Lane K has been named the morning-line favorite in the first of two eliminations for the $100,000 William Connors Memorial 3-Year-Old Trot at Hazel Park Raceway Friday night, while stablemate First Pleasurelane, coming off a ninth-place finish in the lone Yonkers Trot elimination last Saturday night, is the fourth choice in the second elim.

Twin B Caviar and Foggy Lane K have each won just one race this year, both coming in overnights at The Meadows. Twin B Caviar, a gelded son of SJ�s Caviar, scored his win with a 2:00.1 effort April 29, while Foggy Lane K�s lone trip to the winner�s circle came following a 1:59.2 outing on May 2. Norris will drive Foggy Lane K from post eight, with Vince Copeland getting the mount behind Twin B Caviar, who drew post one.

Also in the field is Keykeeper, making his first start since capturing the $118,630 Michigan Sire Stakes final last fall at Hazel Park. Mike Micallef trains and drives the sophomore gelding who is the 3-1 second choice leaving from post three. Keykeeper had nine wins and one second his freshman season on his way to divisional honors in the Wolverine State.

The first elimination also features two fillies, including Careless Love, who finished second in the 2007 Michigan Sire Stakes final. Keith Crawford owns, trains and drives Careless Love, who drew post seven. The other filly is Finix Hanover, who will be driven by Wally McIlmurray Jr. for trainer Terry McCorkle.

First Pleasurelane, despite having the lead down the backstretch in the Yonkers Trot elimination, faded to finish last and was the lone horse in the nine-horse field to not earn a return ticket to this weekend�s rich final. The colt was coming off a career-best 1:56 victory in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes (PASS) contest at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, one of his two victories this year; earlier this year he finished second in the $185,000 Dexter Cup final at Freehold. Norris will be in the sulky from post three.

The morning-line favorite in the second Connors elim is Production, who is coming off a 1:57.1 win in a PASS division at Harrah�s Chester June 18. An eight-time winner in 14 career starts, Hazel Park�s leading driver, Peter Wrenn, will be in the sulky for trainer Kelly O�Donnell.

Also in the second elim is Shaman Hall, who captured the $200,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes final last fall at The Red Mile. Leaving from post seven, Shaman Hall will be driven by Billy Dobson for trainer Rolf Ebener.

This year�s Connors marks the return for the race named for the late Hall of Fame race secretary after last being contested in 2004. The 2004 Connors was won by Coventry, trained by Hall of Famer Doug Ackerman and driven by his son, D.R. Ackerman. Norris won the 2003 Connors with Mac�s Crown K, who went on to finish third in that year�s $1 million Hambletonian final.

The $100,000 Connors Memorial final will be held Friday, July 4, on a holiday program that will also feature the track's annual fireworks display that takes place afterward.

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