Numbers Man adds a victory in Morven

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - For Numbers Man, the number he needed to come up was five - as in the five-furlong distance of the $50,000 Morven Stakes Friday night at the Meadowlands.

Richard Malouf's 2-year-old colt broke his maiden at first asking at the five-furlong distance. His return to that distance on the turf under Jose Velez Jr. stopped a three-race losing streak at slightly longer treks and produced a 16-1 upset.

"We've been strictly looking for the chance to sprint him," said

trainer Eddie Broome. "He's got the Polish Numbers breeding, and they will go on the turf, but it's got to be in a sprint. We've just been waiting for just this kind of race."

True Genius made a late run to get second a half-length behind Numbers Man.

Deeliteful Guy, the 6-5 favorite, was another head back in third.

"He ran really game tonight," said Velez. "I got him out there on the lead pretty easily. That horse [True Genius] came at him, but he just took off again. It was a real nice race for him."

Numbers Man, the only New Jersey-bred in the field, will not race again until the spring of 2002 when he will be pointed to state-bred sprint races.