By Dave Little,
Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. –
Driver Jim Taggart Jr. is having a superb season at Monticello Raceway, and if
Thursday night is any indication, he may be heading for some wintertime success
at the Meadowlands as well.
Taggart guided Master
Of Puppets to an ideal second-over trip, and as the favorites weakened late, he
tipped his 23-1 chance off cover when they straightened away at the head of the
stretch before going on to a three-quarter length win in the Dash For The “G”
Notes Final. May I Cruise West was second, with Acton Onelasttime third.
In the early going, 9-5
second choice Esprit De Kayjay A, seeking his seventh straight score, was on
the lead, but yielded to even-money public choice Walks Of Life. The leader was
sailing along on the point as May I Cruise West started his grind at the
five-eighths, towing Master Of Puppets with him.
Walks Of Life was clear
at three-quarters, but over a surface that has been unkind of late to horses
racing on the lead, his crunch-time gas tank was on empty as Master Of Puppets
scored with ease for trainer Dan Morrissey. The winner, a 7-year-old gelded son
of Ashlee’s Big Guy, paid $48.80 to win and paced the mile in a season’s-best
1:52.3. He now has 34 lifetime wins in 183 starts.
A LITTLE MORE: Jim Marohn Jr., fresh off winning his third straight
Finn Tack Driver of the Week award, won twice on the card, giving him 11
winners over the last four racing programs. … Brett Miller also scored a
driving double. … The Late 20 Cent Jackpot Super High 5 failed to result in a
single-ticket winner, pushing the carryover to $47,447. … All-source wagering
on the card totaled $1,520,576. … Effective immediately, and until the end of
February, post time at the Big M shifts to 6:35 p.m. … Racing resumes Friday
evening.
