Governor's Pride upsets Say Florida Sandy

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Governor's Pride went wire to wire to score in the $75,000 Chief Pennekeck Stakes Friday night on the next to last card of The Meadowlands meeting. Odds-on favorite Say Florida Sandy finished fifth.

Trained by Tim Ritchey, Governor's Pride ($13.60) outsprinted the Chief Pennekeck field for his second straight stakes victory and gave apprentice jockey Jeremy Rose four wins on the night. A 4-year-old son of Housebuster, Governor's won by three-quarters of a length over Loaded Gun and got the six furlongs in 1:08.64. Grangeville and Ticket to Freedom were a neck back in a dead-heat for third.

Shaun Bridgmohan, who rode Say Florida Sandy, said his mount was far from his usual self: "He was just completely flat tonight. Warming up he got on his toes a little bit, but once we got out there he had to be ridden the whole way. That's just not him."

Lynch, Alvarado sweep futurities

The split of the $80,000 New Jersey Futurity into two divisions at the Meadowlands proved no problem for trainer Cathal Lynch and jockey Roberto Alvarado Friday night.

The two paired up to win the filly division with Our Cozzette and the male division with Parfy's Legacy - both in photo finishes.

Our Cozzette ($8) is undefeated in two sprint starts to begin her career. A New Jersey-bred daughter of Cozzene, she waited until the last moment to snatch away the victory from Ambers Smile by a neck.

Parfy's Legacy ($9) cut his second straight win just as close by pouncing on Numbers Man, then having to hold off Numbers Man's last-ditch surge, which included some bumping in the shadow of the wire.

A claim of foul by Numbers Man's rider, Jose Velez Jr., was disallowed. Our Wildcat finished third.