by James
Witherite, Meadowlands Media Relations
East
Rutherford, N.J. – Henderson Farms’ Bushwacker (9-5 morning line) and Kenneth
Jacobs’s Doctor Butch (2-1) are poised for a Saturday night (Jan. 9) rematch in
the featured $25,000 Open Handicap Pace at The Meadowlands, and the heavily
favoured pair will square off against a quintet of other foes in the night’s
most prestigious of 14 races, carded as the second event.
Doctor
Butch, the lone millionaire of the septet, was assigned post 6 for his second
start of the meet. The 6-year-old Art Major entire turned in a massive
rally in last week’s Open, kicking third-over cover late to pass all but one of
his rivals. John Campbell handles the driving duties once again for
trainer Linda Toscano. The one that Doctor Butch failed to pass—Bushwacker—was
assigned the outside post 7 in the group by virtue of a string of four straight
top-two finishes against Open company at both Dover and the Meadowlands.
Last week, the 5-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding found a seam up the pegs in
the final eighth to kick clear off a pocket trip. Corey Callahan handled
the driving assignment for trainer Chris Ryder last week, and “The Captain” is
slated to be back aboard the 13-time winner this week.
Other
notable contestants include Kingofthejungle (Andy Miller, post 5), who won
three straight races before facing defeat in the final sixteenth in last week’s
Open, and Sunfire Blue Chip (Brett Miller, post 2), who has amassed over
$920,000 in career earnings.
A
sub-featured upper-level conditioned pace will go as race 9 on the evening,
with a field of nine vying for a purse of $15,000. Following a
traffic-troubled journey last week, Ron Burke trainee Ultimate Beachboy drops
down from the Open ranks for his third outing of the meet. Yannick
Gingras will drive the 2-1 morning line favourite from post 7, but the pair
will face their fair share of formidable foes. Mr Franklin N (Tim
Tetrick, post 1) and Rockin Wizard (Callahan, post 6) both come back off solid
in-the-money finishes at this class, while Good Side (Jim Marshall, III) steps
up off a third-level win and four prior top-three outings between Freehold and
Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Punters
should note that while the Pick 5 and Pick 4s still combine for $105,000 in
guaranteed pools, the Pick 5 now begins in race three and the Pick 4s are due
to begin in the fifth and ninth events. Likewise, the 20¢ Jackpot Super
High 5 will be offered in races seven and 14, with over $50,000 in carryover
money awaiting this week’s players.
On
Saturday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., fans who have opted into the
email database can redeem coupons for $5 wagering vouchers they have received
in their inboxes.
Post time
for both the Friday and Saturday cards this week at The Meadowlands will be
6:35 p.m. EST. For more information on racing, dining, and entertainment
at the Meadowlands, visit playmeadowlands.com.
