This week the race card is
comprised of the regular Saturday overnight stock with nothing but pacing
races, leading one to believe that this offering may well eclipse last
Saturday's total handle of over $3.6 million.
Open pacers take to the track
for the ninth race with ten fast horses (post positions were handicapped)
competing for the lion's share of the $25,000 purse. Bushwacker is the
ambiguous 5-2 choice here as trainer Chris Ryder brings Craig
Henderson's Rocknroll Hanover gelding into the race off several impressive
efforts at Dover Downs. Corey Callahan has the mount on Saturday.
Chief among the competition
is the improving Kingofthejungle who has strung three straight wins
together including one at the open level in his last since joining Mark
Capone's barn. Andy Miller is back aboard as he has been for each of those
wins on behalf of owners Fox Racing, Inc. and Darius Oshidar.
Leaving from the outside post
ten is Doctor Butch who has done some of his best work over the
Meadowlands mile oval. He has beaten Meadowlands open fields in the past and
was the "hot horse" for a spell here last winter. He's earned over $1
million in his career for owner Ken Jacobs, has a fast 1:48.1 record taken at
The Meadowlands in 2015 and gets Hall of Famer John Campbell to drive on
Saturday for trainer Linda Toscano.
Race eight sends fourteen
starters to the post at the distance of a mile and an eighth in a $10,000
claiming class. Historically the big fields are well-received by the
horseplayers and the payoffs reflect the high difficulty level faced in
handicapping the race.
The inflated number of races
on Saturday (due to the holiday schedule) requires the early 6:35
p.m. first post and the wagering
format has again been adjusted to accommodate the early start. Things
will return to normal with live racing on Friday and Saturday at 7:00 p.m. next
week.
The horizontal wager
guaranteed pools are set at $30,000 for the Pick-5 (races three-seven), $25,000
for the Early Pick-4 (races five-eight) and $50,000 for the Late Pick-4 (races
nine-12). The Jackpot Super Hi-5 comes up in races seven and 15 (carryover at
$44,988).
Both Pick-4 bets and the Jackpot Super
Hi-5 are at the low retention rate of 15%.
Get an early start to
handicapping the $50,000 guaranteed Late Pick-4 by downloading the Platinum
Past Performances for those races, courtesy of TrackMaster.
The Meadowlands offers
several attractive dining
options for your consideration. Reservations are recommended.
