Nominations up at the Meadowlands

Nominations to 12 Meadowlands winter and spring stakes events are significantly higher in 2009.

The Four Leaf Clover and Berry’s Creek Pace lead the way with nearly double the nominees over the previous year. The three-week Four Leaf Clover Series for older pacers drew a 91 percent increase in nominees, 42 in 2009 vs. 22 in 2008. The Four Leaf Clover features two $25,000 legs that culminate in a $95,000 final on March 21.

A total of 78 horses were nominated to the 2009 Berry’s Creek, the first major stakes race of the season for 3-year-old colt pacers, marking an 86 percent increase over the 42 in 2008. The $225,000 Berry’s Creek will be contested Saturday, May 9, with eliminations to be raced the week prior.

“The Meadowlands has always had the premier early and late closing stakes program in the country and we are happy to see the number of nominees to those events has increased for 2009,” noted Meadowlands racing secretary Peter Koch. “We look forward to a great stakes season ahead of us.”

Nominations to two winter series events for fillies and mares are notably higher. The Tender Loving Care for 3 year olds increased 37 percent, from 75 to 103, while the Night Styles for mares four and under rose 33 percent, from 60 to 80 nominees. The number of 3-year-old pacing colts nominated to the Matt’s Scooter Series is also up 38 percent to 94 nominees vs. 68 in 2007.

The rest of the stakes which drew increased nominations are: Clyde Hirt Stake (88 vs. 74), Horse and Groom (67 vs. 51), Aquarius (34 vs. 22), White Ruffles (57 vs. 52), Jersey Girls (59 vs. 56), Junior Trendsetter (116 vs. 114) and Art Unger Stake (formerly the Senior Trendsetter, 97 vs. 95).

Nominations were down only slightly in six other events, while the Cape & Cutter drew the same number of mares as the previous year.

Nominations for these events are posted under the Horsemen section of the Meadowlands Web site at: http://www.meadowlandsracetrack.com/stakesNom.asp. (Meadowlands)

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