East Rutherford, NJ –
Friday night at The Meadowlands has some really interesting races on the card
as new faces begin to filter in to town and the overall quality improves in
anticipation of the upcoming stakes season.
The $25,000 Open
Handicap trot is an example of the shifting landscape as only two of the seven
participants in this edition raced in last week’s Open.
New to the scene is
Rose Run Parker who dominated the Indiana program as a two and three-year-old,
then was lightly campaigned last year at age four by Ron Burke. Now with three
impressive sub-1:53 wins in as many starts at The Meadows at age five, Rose Run
Parker is making his first foray into the “Big Time” at The Meadowlands.
He’s drawn the open
outside post seven from the three spots available to him via the handicap
condition of the race. His last line indicates Rose Run Parker doesn’t
mind a little air, showing being wide through a 55.4 half and living to tell of
it. Joe Bongiorno has the drive for owners Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi.
Returning to the wars
is the accomplished veteran Melady’s Monet, who makes his 2016 debut in
Friday’s Open. The pride of the Balenzano family's Melady Enterprises had far
and away his best season in 2015, earning $364,450 on the strength of a dozen wins.
John Campbell drives the veteran from post five for trainer Kevin
McDermott.
The lead promotion this
weekend in the Tax Relief Sweepstakes where The Meadowlands
will put smiles on the faces of a few customers by giving them money. The
possibility of winning a trip to the Kentucky Derby exists with entry accepted via
a form in the program or on social media through April 23.
You may dine in any of several venues
while enjoying the races including a delightful buffet in Pink, the trackside dining room.
For those interested in
the gambling, all horizontal wager guarantees remain at the expected level and
the last race Jackpot Super Hi-5 carryover stands at $164,848 entering the
weekend. Past performance for the Late Pick 4 is yours
at the click of a mouse for each night’s card, courtesy of Trackmaster.
Post time is 7:15 p.m.
