Lisagain Prevails In Wild Four Leaf Clover Finish

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Published: March 27, 2010 10:43 pm EDT

In a wild rush to the finish, Lisagain out-sprinted Alexie Mattosie and Golden Receiver to win the $132,000 Four Leaf Clover Final by a nose Saturday night at Meadowlands Racetrack

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Lisagain sat third on the pylons through a :54.4 half before angling out to challenge the pacesetter Beeyouuuuu (Brian Sears) down the backstretch. He passed the tiring leader mid-way down the lane and dug in gamely in the final strides for a 1:50.3 clocking with Hall of Fame driver John Campbell in the sulky. Alexie Mattosie, driver George Brennan's choice over Lisagain, moved three-wide on the far turn and fell just a nose short at the wire. Golden Receiver (Yannick Gingras) shook loose late to finish third, just a head behind them. In what was perhaps the most competitive final in the stake's history, Lisagain was sent off as the fifth choice in the betting and paid $10.40.

The Erv Miller trainee improved his impressive seasonal slate to five wins in eight starts for owners Mystical Marker Farms of Dyer, Indiana and John Carver of Moline, Illinois. The four-year-old son of Dragon Again-Lisheen is a half-brother to two-time Older Pacer of the Year Lismara.

In Friday's $32,000 Invitational Pace, Pilgrims Toner captured his third straight victory after making a three-wide move at the third interval. Driver Yannick Gingras rolled the six-year-old son of The Panderosa-Beep Beep around the stalled Line Of Fire N (George Brennan) and unleashed a :28-second closing quarter to sail by the pacesetter, Western Shore (Dave Miller), for the 5-1/2 length score in 1:50 flat. Mr Hallowell (Ron Pierce) rounded out the top three.

Pilgrims Toner returned $7.40 to win as the 5-2 third choice. He has won four of his 11 starts this year and $65,955 for trainer Frank Catalfamo, who shares ownership with Joseph Spezio, Patrick Daley, Robert Mills of New Jersey.

To view Saturday's results, click here.

(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)

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