The win is Follow the Money's (Pine Bluff--Money Player, by Marshua's Dancer) fifth in 10 starts, and the first in a stakes for the Christopher Elia and Patricia Elia homebred. In her lone prior stakes start, Follow the Money finished fifth in the restricted Santa Lucia Handicap. Since then the 4-year-old has won two of four starts, including an optional claimer at Del Mar when last out. Follow the Money earned $90,000 for the win. (Chart, Equibase)
Follow the Money tracked early pacesetter Dominique's Joy and then dueled through the stretch with Melody Queen to win the $150,000 Violet Handicap (gr. IIIT) by a neck Friday night at Meadowlands. With Chris McCarron in the irons, the David Hofmans trainee, making her first East Coast start, completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.65 over yielding turf. Melody Queen closed from last to finish second, followed by Fickle Friends, Golden Crown, Dominique's Joy, Won Jenelle, and Camella. Sent off as the favorite, Follow the Money paid $5.80 for the win and topped a winning exacta worth $25.60.