Lubbock wins Hiram Woodruff final

Lubbock extended his winning streak to five races with a 1:53.1 score in the $46,000 Hiram Woodruff Final Friday night at Meadowlands Racetrack.

Lubbock pressed Rompaway Alvin through an opening quarter in :28 before taking the backseat through brisk middle fractions of :55.3 and 1:24.3.  Driver Ron Pierce angled Lubbock out of the pocket in the stretch and he rolled past the tired leader for a three-quarter-length victory.  Lubbock paid $11.20 to win the fifth race feature.  The Chancellor had every chance to catch the winner, but fell short in the sprint for home.  Proud Moment sat third the whole way and rallied between horses to grab the show money.

"I just wanted to take a little bit out of [Rompaway Alvin] because he's a good horse and he's definitely a factor in the race," Pierce said.  "I thought I'd just sting him a little in the first quarter and hopefully just sit on his back a while, and that somebody would get in Andy's way [Miller and The Chancellor].  It worked out great, just like that.  I saw [The Chancellor] back there following George [Brennan and Mr Cantab] and I said 'we better get going here,' because that horse can go."

This season has marked a significant turnaround for Lubbock, who went 0 for 26 in 2009.  Owner Joseph Fanelli of Wayne, PA, purchased the trotter privately from Canadian connections on Dec. 31, 2009 and he has now seven of 12 starts and $72,588.  Nat Varty trains the 5-year-old son of Angus Hall-Luby.

"I liked the mare Luby and I have to give credit to [Canadian-based trainer] Dale Devine, who found her," Fanelli said.  "The second week Nat [Varty] trained him, he said he was an open trotter and to stake him."(Meadowlands)