Mayflowermoonshine wins 14-Year-Old Invitational at Monticello Raceway

By Shawn Wiles

Monticello Raceway Race Secretary, Eric Warner was successful in putting a race together for 6 veteran campaigners that will go behind the starting gate for the last time.

The 6 starters sport an impressive overall body of work, between them they have amassed a total of 2202 lifetime starts, 369 wins and over $2,435,000 in career earnings.

On Monday afternoon, this bunch of hardy campaigners did not show any signs of aging, as the gate, a trio of aged pacers left the gate hard with Esprit De Kayjay A getting the lead and taking the field past the ¼ in 28.1. Delco Tross was first over at the half in 58.2 and took the field past the ¾ in 1:28.2 and was on top by 5 lengths, at the top of the lane Delco Tross (Mike Merton) appeared to be on his way to victory, but Rick Harp and Mayflowermoonshine rallied in deep stretch to overtake Delco Tross in 1:59.4, B Blissfull (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) finished 3^rd.

For Mayflowermoonshine it was his 7^th win of the season, giving him 52 lifetime wins, the 14-year-old son of Pilgrims Punch is owned and trained by Dennis Lacey of Aurora, NY and was bred by Elmer L Yoder.  Mayflowermoonshine lifetime stats include over 426 starts, a record of 1:51.2 taken at 3 with lifetime earnings of $653,000.

BIG M ENDS YEAR WITH MEET-HIGH HANDLE

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Maybe all of the Meadowlands' faithful found money in their Christmas stockings.

Betting on the 14-race Saturday night Big M program came within $14,000 of the magic $3-million mark, as all-source wagering reached $2,986,115, eclipsing the previous meet best of $2,764,913, which was established on Nov. 24. The current meeting began on Oct. 12.

The action got off to a fast start as $724,232 was pushed through the windows on the first three races of the night, which included $273,448 in the third, which was the high for a single race.

The 50-Cent Pick-5 saw $69,507 poured into the pot while the 50-Cent Pick-4 took $94,136 in wagers. The Pick-5 came back $4,074.10 while the Pick-4 paid $287.40.

STARZNHEAVEN TAKES FEATURE: Starznheaven benefited from patient handling from driver Anthony Napolitano to take the featured $15,000 conditioned pace.

The 6-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven-Dancinwithethestarz stayed at the rail most of the way and was in the four hole at the half as 2-5 favorite Tact Tate N was sailing along on the point on the way to what looked like a easy score. But shortly after clearing the top, Tact Tate N was a bit hard to handle as he bore away from the rail before driver Dexter Dunn got the public choice righted and back to the inside.

But he was vulnerable.

Around the far turn, the pocket-sitting Dragon Time came after the leader while the Jimmy Nickerson-trained Starznheaven ($10.20 to win as the second choice) followed that one’s cover before fanning out into the three path mid-lane. Starznheaven then surged past Dragon Time in the shadow of the wire to record a narrow neck victory in 1:50. Tact Tate N held on for third.

A LITTLE MORE: Brett Miller led the driving colony with three victories on the card while Andy Miller and Yannick Gingras had two apiece. … Trainer Jeff Cullipher continued to make an impact at the meeting, as the Hoosier Park regular conditioned a pair of winners on the program. … Racing resumes Friday, Jan. 4, 2019 at 7:15 p.m.

DARLINONTHEBEACH SCORES IN BIG M FEATURE

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Darlinonthebeach made her Meadowlands return a winning one, taking the Friday night feature, the $20,000 Preferred Handicap for pacing fillies and mares in 1:51, her seasonal best.

As reported by Jay Bergman in DRF Harness, the Nifty Norman trainee, who last raced at the Big M on Nov. 16, has battled a nagging suspensory injury for much of the season, which derailed her Breeders Crown and TVG hopes, but she showed no ill effects of her physical problem after a perfect trip led to her third win of the season in nine starts.

Sent to the gate as the 3-5 favorite (along with entrymate Stylish Beachware), Darlinonthebeach was taken to the rear of the eight-horse field by driver David Miller in the early stages. Brazuca, who went off stride briefly before the start, made a bold move at leader Kak’s Shark Attack down the backstretch and on to three-quarters, all the while providing a perfect tow for Darlinonthebeach, who was in an ideal second-over flow.

With three-sixteenths of a mile to go, Darlinonthebeach was tipped off her cover by Miller and rolled to a decisive 1¾-length victory over Jewel Lehigh A, who rallied for second. Brazuca hung in there to nab the show dough.

Darlinonthebeach, a 5-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Darlin’s Delight who is owned (and was bred) by White Birch Farm, returned $3.20 to her backers. Lifetime, she’s won 20-of-54 starts and banked $1,068,648.

A LITTLE MORE: Yannick Gingras continued his winning ways, guiding four to victory lane, including three for trainer Ron Burke. David Miller and Dexter Dunn had three apiece. Gingras and Miller have 11 victories each over the last three Big M programs … The 50-Cent Pick-4 pool came oh-so-close to reaching the six-figure mark, as a total of $99,938 was pushed through the windows on the Big M’s signature bet. … All-source handle on the 14-race program was $2,486,515. … Racing resumes Saturday at 7:15 p.m. with another action-packed 14-race card.

MARCUS MELANDER VOTED RISING STAR BY HARNESS WRITERS ASSOCIATION

STEFAN BALAZSI’S ORDER BY STABLE IS BREEDER OF THE YEAR;

LADY ASHLEE ANN, SOUTHWIND SERENA PICKED AS TOP BROODMARES

HARRISBURG PA – Marcus Melander, “to the manor born” in terms of personal harness racing pedigree, went out in 2018 and made great accomplishments with a small but talented collection of trotters, including the two dominant two-year-old colts, in the process earning the Rising Star Award in voting conducted by the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA).

Also honored by USHWA were Order By Stable (Stefan Balazsi) as Breeder of the Year, and two broodmares, trotter Southwind Serena and pacer Lady Ashlee Ann, as their gait’s respective Broodmare of the Year.

Marcus Melander came from a rich trotting heritage in his native Sweden, with perhaps the best-known of his family being his uncle Stefan Melander, the Hambletonian, Prix d’Amerique, and International Trot winner, and also noted for his photography as “Foto Tarzan.” Upon coming to the United States, Marcus worked for Jimmy Takter, as fine an addition to a resume as one could want, and then went out on his own.

2018 was the current peak of what is likely to be many more high points in Marcus’s career. His 1-2 punch in the baby trotting colt ranks were Gimpanzee, the undefeated New York Sire Stakes champion who then won his Breeders Crown and divisional honors, and Green Manalishi S, second in the Crown and like his stablemate a winner of over $500,000 in his freshman campaign. (Other members in Melander’s 2019 sophomore arsenal may be Demon On The Hill, who showed great potential, mostly in Pennsylvania, and Greenshoe, a $330,000 yearling who showed promise in a brief freshman campaign.)

It’s not often that anybody wins a $1,000,000 race, especially a 26-year-old sending a horse out for the first time, but that’s just what Melander did, getting expatriate Cruzado Dela Noche from uncle Stefan before the International Trot and then beating a group of the world’s elite trotters. In another big FFA win, Crazy Wow, also recently added to the barn, turned in a 31-1 upset in the Maple Leaf Trot Final.

Named as Breeder of the Year was the Order By Stable of Stefan Balazsi, which started in Sweden but now is one of the emerging major players on the North American breeding scene. The breeding operation produced only 30 starters “on this side” during 2018, but still ranked twelfth in terms of money won, with Order By’s offspring earning $2.4 million in Canada and the U.S..

The Hambletonian-winning, million-dollar earning sophomore filly Atlanta, her division’s champion, certainly was the cream of the crop of Order By’s produce in 2018. Not too far behind, though, was Gimpanzee, mentioned above in connection with trainer Marcus Melander, who also was a divisional champion and accounted for almost $600,000 in earnings himself.

The winning broodmares shared producing a three-year-old colt who when at his best delivered blistering speed that left most of his generation behind. Lady Ashlee Ann, a daughter of Camtastic owned by Winbak Farms for more than twenty years, was the dam of pacer Courtly Choice, a son of Art Major who sped to a 1:47.1 record, emerged victorious in the Empire Breeders Classic Final, Meadowlands Pace and a thrilling Little Brown Jug, and earned over $900,000. Lady Ashlee Ann was declared a “walkover winner” by USHWA’s Breeders / Broodmares Committee, so outstanding did they see the merit of her and her son.

On the trotting side, Southwind Serena, a Varenne mare owned by Steve Stewart, Black Creek Farm, and Andrea Lea Racing Stables Inc., was recognized because of the exploits of trotter Tactical Landing. This Muscle Hill colt, a full brother to the mercurial distaff Mission Brief, had been in the spotlight since his sale for $800,000 as a yearling, second-highest price ever, and for the better part of the next two years looked like a questionable investment. But trainer Jimmy Takter (Stefan Melander’s earlier mentor) exhibited tremendous developmental patience, and entering the Hambletonian with five races lifetime and $14,000 on his card, the colt showed he “belonged” by winning his elimination and finishing third in the final. This was the igniting of a late-season surge than saw him take a mark of 1:50.2 at Lexington, sweep his Breeders Crown races, and then defeat older horses handily in the TVG Championship – while winning nearly $800,000 after the first Saturday in August.

Marcus Melander, Order By Stable, Lady Ashlee Ann, Southwind Serena and their connections will be honored at USHWA’s annual Dan Patch Awards Banquet, celebrating the best and brightest of harness racing in the past year. The banquet honoring the champions of 2018 will be held on Sunday, February 24, 2019 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando FL, the climax of a weekend that also finds USHWA holding its annual national meetings.

Tickets for the Dan Patch Awards Banquet are $175, with a filet mignon dinner featured; “post times” on February 24 are cocktails at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets, and other Banquet-related information, can be obtained through Dinner Planning Committee Chair Judy Davis-Wilson, at zoe8874@aol.com or 302 359 3630.

Hotel reservations for those attending can be made through USHWA’s website, www.ushwa.org; a link to the hotel’s computer is on the front page of the website. Those who would like to take out congratulatory ads for awardwinners in the always-popular Dan Patch Awards Journal can do so by contacting Kim Rinker at trotrink@aol.com (the 2018 journal is online at the writers’ website).

New career on horizon for Nutmegs Desire

By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness

Nutmegs Desire, who will suit up in Saturday night’s ninth race, recently recorded a milestone 50^th victory here and after some farewell starts will begin a new career next year as a broodmare.

A soon-to-be 11-year-old daughter of Real Desire, Nutmegs Desire is owned by the partnership of Don and Barbara Arnstine, Steve Chambers and Tyler Wiseman with Kathie Plested training and Steve Wiseman in the sulky.

She comes into this assignment with 231 starts on her resume, with 50 wins, 42 seconds and 29 thirds and $233,000 in her bank account. She sports a 1:53 1/5 lifetime mark that was established five years ago at Pocono Downs.

Nutmegs Desire reached the half a century win mark here on December 8, going right to the front and then coming out of the fog to get the job done by a length and a half. She came back in her last start to miss score No. 51 by just a head.

Following that victory three weeks ago, members of the Cal Expo racing office were treated to a cake courtesy of the pacing mare and Barbara Arnstine.

“Nutmegs Desire is a horseman’s horse,” a proud Barbara related when asked about the bay 10-year-old mare. “She’s honest and consistent in effort, she’s a pleasure to have in the barn as long as you keep those carrots coming, and she helps keep the youngsters in line.”

Arnstine explained that some chronic injuries slowed her East Coast campaign and former California owner/trainer Gilbert Herrera sent her to Plested and Wiseman to finish up her career.

“In one of her last races at Running Aces this summer, as she was charging down the stretch to her 49^th win, someone yelled out ‘Go on Grandma, you can do it’!

“No one told ‘Grandma’ this was a finish,” Barbara said. “Steve will tell you that when he tries to pull her up after a race. If you aren’t flying back to the winner’s circle, then she’s ready to go around again. Once you put that yellow hood on, she’s ready to work.”

In a few months, Nutmegs Desire will go from being a veteran racemare to a young broodmare.

“When the snows melt in Canada in early March, she’ll be on her way to having those babies that we will look forward to seeing,” Arnstine noted.

“Meanwhile, that yellow hood will keep pushing to the front, trying to win and prove a credit to the breed.”

Bill Conlin Pace shares spotlight with Opens 

Urgointohearmeroar and Lickcreek Speedway, who put on quite a show two weeks ago, get another chance to settle the score in Saturday night’s featured $8,400 Bill Conlin Pace.

Watch and Wager LLC will present an excellent 12-race card that gets underway at 6:10 p.m. In addition to the Conlin, there is a $7,000 Open Pace that finds I’m An Athlete seeking an encore and a $6,500 Filly and Mare Open Pace headed by the razor-sharp Capitol Hill.

Urgointohermeroar and Lickcreek Speedway finished one-two in the December 14 Conlin Prep, with Urgoinhearmeroar getting up by a head over the latter after that rival had opened a clear lead at midstretch.

Urgointohearmeroar is a 3-year-old son of Mystery Chase who is owned by Mark Anderson, hails from the Gordie Graham barn and will once again have Mooney Svendsen giving directions.

He has accounted for three of his four appearances at this meet, lowering his lifetime standard to 1:54 flat in his most recent outing. Sent off the 8-5 choice in that contest, he stalked to the lane and proved best at the line.

Lickcreek Speedway has a win and two near-misses from her five trips to the post at this stand, with her victory coming in the Annette Funicello Prep on December 7. She set her mark of 1:56 1/5 this year at Hooser Park and goes about her business for owner Jennifer Scarberry and driver/trainer James Kennedy.

Completing the field are Hay Hay Alright for Ryan Grundy; Just B Talking, Gerry Longo; Oh My Josh with Steve Wiseman; and Dancer’s Fancy, who has Dean Magee at the controls.

BRETT SUPER, WINS THREE AT BIG M

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – He didn’t leap any tall buildings in a single bound, but “Super” Brett Miller lived up to his nickname nonetheless at the Meadowlands Thursday night, winning three of the 10 races on the program.

Miller got his party started in the fourth race trot for $10,000 claimers, putting 5-2 second choice Photo King into a perfect spot second-over before rolling home to 1¼-length win in 1:55.2. The Saratoga shipper won his second straight and ninth in 40 starts this year.

Monty’s Play scorched the mile oval in race six, scoring in a 3- and 4-year-old $25,000 claiming pace in a lifetime-best 1:50.4. Miller had the 2-5 favorite racing on the outside past the half and three-quarters before squashing the field by 7¾ lengths, extending the Dover Downs shipper’s win streak to three for trainer Scott DiDomenico, who won for the first time at the Big M meeting.

Miller completed his three-bagger with another DiDomenico student, Spanish Art, in the eighth race $7,500 claiming pace. After getting gunned down by a nose a week ago as the 8-5 favorite, the betting public showed no fear, betting Spanish Art down to even-money, and the 4-year-old gelding delivered in 1:52.1 by a length despite going parked for the final half-mile.

THREE PAIR: Drivers Eric Abbatiello, Anthony Napolitano and Eric Carlson all won twice on the card, meaning that four drivers accounted for nine of the winners on the program.

A LITTLE MORE: The Big M’s signature wager, the 50-Cent Pick-4, saw big action as $81,907 was poured into the pool. The winning combination of 7-4-7-3 returned $265.80. … All-source wagering totaled $1,413,436. … Racing resumes Friday at 7:15 p.m. with a big 14-race card. The feature is the seventh race $20,000 Fillies and Mares Preferred Handicap for pacers. The 2-1 morning-line favorite is Darlinonthebeach, who has won 19-of-53 lifetime starts, good for earnings of $1,058,648.

Jim Devaux wins 5 races, again

By Shawn Wiles

The month of December seems to be to Jim Devaux’s liking, it was only 10 days ago that he won 5 races on the afternoon.  On Thursday afternoon December 27, Devaux did it again.  The wins started in Race 2 where he scored with RCS Ready (2:04.1-$9.70) for trainer Wesley Miller. It is rare to see Devaux go off at odds of 30/1, as he pulled off a shocker with NY Whitesox in 1:58 and paid $63.50.  Jim came right back in the next race and visited the winners circle with Quality Closer in the Winner Over event, scoring an easy 6 length win in 1:54.4 for Monica Banca, Zack Lee won the 10^th race for owner Gary Haas in 1:57 - $5.50. Drive Em Cowboy capped off the 5 bagger in race 11 to win in 1:57.2 and paid $13.20 for win.  Devaux just missed his 6^th winner of the day but fell short finishing second in the last race.

The 5 wins added to DeVaux’s yearly tally, giving him 211 wins at Monticello Raceway, placing him 4^th in for leading dash winners and $796,076 in earnings, over $776,000 was wagered on the 12-race card.

Open II Pace, Trot headline program

By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness

A $6,000 Open II Distaff Pace headed by Magnifique and a $5,500 Open II Trot featuring Dougs Hobby Horse and Windsun Galaxie are the main attractions on Friday night’s program at Cal Expo.

There will be 12 races presented by Watch and Wager LLC with first post set for 6:10 p.m.

Looking at the Filly and Mare Open II event, Magnifique figures to have her share of backers leaving from the cozy rail slot for Luke Plano, who reins and trains the 7-year-old mare for Nikki Hudson.

Magnifique started the meet with a victory in a conditioned contest, was third in a blanket finish in the November 30 Open and at most recent asking was beaten only a half-length while picking up the show money behind the streaking Scary Harry in the Alan Horowitz Memorial.

Several of the performers in the co-featured Open II Trot have the credentials to get the picture taken, including a pair from the Rick Bertrand barn in Dougs Hobby Horse and Majestic Lady Jo.

The latter, who carries the banner of Bertrand and Amy Grunwald, was a 29-1 upset winner of the December 7 Open, while Dougs Hobby Horse races for Bertrand and Doug Flores and sports an Open victory from last month.

Windsun Galaxie is coming off a solid runner-up effort behind Silverhill Volo in the most recent clash at the head of the division two weeks ago and has been assigned the outside post in the field of six. Dean Magee handles the lines for owner Ronald Rettig-Zucchi and conditioner Jessie Pacheco.

Low takeout wagers offer true value

There are two wagers offered here nightly that come with a reduced 16 percent takeout rate, giving players extra incentive to participate in these horizontal bets.

The wagers are the 50-cent Pick 5, which begins on the first race; and the 20-cent Pick 4, which comes with a $20,000-guaranteed pool on Fridays and $30,000 on Saturdays.

In addition, Cal Expo offers 20-cent Trifectas and 10-cent Superfectas, affording players the opportunity to spread deep in these vertical wagers.

AARON MERRIMAN VOTED DRIVER OF THE YEAR BY HARNESS WRITERS;

ALSO TO BE HONORED ARE MICHELLE CRAWFORD (GOOD “GUY”),

RAY COTOLO (BREAKTHROUGH) AND CHRIS GOODEN (UNSUNG HERO)

HARRISBURG PA – Aaron Merriman, the first driver to win over 1000 races in two consecutive years and set to post the second-highest one-season victory total in North American history, has been selected as Driver of the Year in a vote among members of the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA), harness racing’s leading media group.

Merriman is only 40 years old, but he is already a “veteran” of 20+ years of the sulky wars, learning from his father Lanny, mostly at Northfield Park near Cleveland. He had 182 winners in 2000, his first year of full-time exposure, but he has been gaining with every step, with 10,857 victories in the 21^st century and 6926 visits to Victory Lane in the first nine years of the this decade.

Merriman will post the second-highest win total for a driver in harness racing history, behind only Tim Tetrick’s standard of 1189 in 2007;  Aaron was at 1118 after Wednesday’s racing. This total eclipses his personal best of 1093, taken last year, and this year he has reached another important milestone with his mounts earning over $10.3 million – his first eight-figure season.

And the level of competition Aaron faces at the main terminals of his endless miles on the road is very high – at Northfield, he consistently races against Ron Wrenn Jr., who was the last person to dethrone him for the national title (2014, by a 847-841 count), and at The Meadows near Pittsburgh he competes against Dave Palone, the winningest driver of all-time (18,640 and counting), and the leading pilot at The Meadows since shortly after high-wheeled sulkies went out of fashion, so it seems.

Michelle Crawford may not keep quite as unremitting a schedule as Merriman, but she comes very close. An unbridled enthusiastic voice for harness racing, Michelle is foremost the co-operator with her husband Al of Crawford Farms, a midstate New York breeding facility, and his racing component Crawford Farms Racing, always looking to acquire the next big star and improve the overall quality of horses associated with Crawford. One giant step towards that goal in 2018 found Michelle in the winners circle of the sport’s biggest race, the Hambletonian, as a partner on the filly Atlanta, who upended the boys in the classic race for three-year-old trotters and then went on to a million-dollar season, and now looms as potentially a great broodmare. Crawford Racing also is co-owner of Homicide Hunter, whose 1:48.4 mile at Lexington earned him “World’s Fastest Trotter” honors.

Michelle is aware of the “bigger picture” in harness racing, reflected in her serving as vice-president of the Harness Horse Breeders of New York, and especially as a board member of the newly-formed Standardbred Transition Alliance, where she will undoubtedly put into practice on a continental level the well-established programs to take care of former racing and breeding stock that she has established at Crawford. Her knowledge and enthusiasm make her one of the more positive forces – a real Good “Guy” -- for the sport.

Two other USHWA honorees serve the sport on a communications level, with one of them involved in the chronicling of the sport half his life – and he’s only 19! Ray Cotolo, winner of the Breakthrough Award as an up-and-comer on the non-training-driving side, started accompanying his journalist father Frank to the major races, and swiftly picked up the necessary knowledge to combine with his natural communications skills to become a source of knowledge for the industry and fans in several areas: a podcast called North American Harness Update, a pioneer (2012) project which went “on the road” for the first time in 2018; freelance work, mainly writing, for such important entities as the Hambletonian Society, The Meadowlands, Standardbred Canada, the Woodbine Entertainment Group, and the Red Mile; and as a budding announcer.

And Ray is doing all this while enrolled at Elizabethtown (PA) College, as a communications major benefitting from the Harold Snyder Memorial Scholarship Fund of the late on-track television pioneer.

Chris Gooden works as the photographer for the racing at The Meadows racetrack, in addition to “regular” jobs his business picks up in his southwestern Pennsylvania area. But what is “Unsung” – and remarkable – about Gooden is the amount of work he does gratis, of his own volition, to keep The Meadows at the forefront of the new forms of “social” communications media (and beyond).

Facebook coverage of live racing? Check. Including “live-from-the-bike” camera photography? Double check. Keeping up a high profile on Twitter? Check. And there’s one above and beyond the call of duty. When illness hampered a local horseman’s finances a few months ago, Gooden posted a Facebook notice that he was selling a special photo of Foiled Again – the Bergstein/Proximity winner, and based at Gooden’s “home track” of The Meadows – and would donate the money minus shipping to the beleaguered family. And over $1500 has been raised so far. No fanfare, just results -- that’s why Chris Gooden is an Unsung Hero.

Merriman, Crawford, Cotolo, and Gooden will be honored at USHWA’s annual Dan Patch Awards Banquet, celebrating the best and brightest of harness racing in the past year. The banquet honoring the champions of 2018 will be held on Sunday, February 24, 2019 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando FL, the climax of a weekend that also finds USHWA holding its annual national meetings.

Reservations for those attending can be made through USHWA’s website, www.ushwa.org; a link to the hotel’s computer is on the front page of the website. Those who would like to take out congratulatory ads for awardwinners in the always-popular Dan Patch Awards Journal can do so by contacting Kim Rinker at trotrink@aol.com (the 2018 journal is online at the writers’ website). Information about purchasing tickets for the dinner will become available and will be posted shortly.

BIG M TO RING IN NEW YEAR WITH WAGERING CHANGES

Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – With calendars about to flip from 2018 to 2019, Meadowlands fans – in addition to resolving to stop smoking, lose weight and pick more winners – can look forward to a bit of a shakeup in the track’s wagering format.

Effective Friday, Jan. 4 – the first card of 2019 – these will be the changes for bettors to take note of:

·         The 50-Cent Pick-5 will get underway in Race 1

·         There will only be one Pick-3 offered, and it will be available on the final three races of the night

·         Something popular at mainly thoroughbred tracks will now be offered at the Big M as rolling Daily Doubles will be on the menu, meaning the bet will be available on Races 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, etc.

·         The “Survivor Wager” will now begin in Race 3, thus, for a 10-race card, it will be a 20-Cent Survivor Pick-8, and on an 11-race card, it will be a 20-Cent Survivor Pick-9, etc.

“Here at the Meadowlands,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir, “every so often we like to provide our fans with some new challenges with a fresh look. While the Pick-5 and Survivor wagers are merely moving to new spots in the order, we are optimistic that the new Rolling Doubles will be a hit with our players.”

Settlemoir also had a message for all of those about to sing “Auld Land Syne”: “I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all of our employees, horse owners, trainers and drivers and, of course, our loyal fans, a healthy and prosperous Happy New Year.”

  

MILLER’S GOT AN EIGHT-PACK: The hot hands for last week’s (Dec. 20-22) programs belonged to David Miller, who recorded eight victories. Yannick Gingras also had the touch, scoring seven times. Miller and Gingras did as well as they did despite not racing on the Thursday program.

Ron Burke led the trainers with four winner’s circle trips.

BOZICH TO CO-HOST: Mike Bozich, one half of the “Post time with Mike & Mike” team that can be heard every Thursday morning at 10:30 a.m. at www.posttimewithmikeandmike.com, will serve as co-host of the live “Racing from the Meadowlands” simulcast show alongside Dave Brower Thursday (Dec. 27) night. In addition to his podcast, Bozich also serves as the track announcer at Harrah’s Philadelphia.  

STILL THREE CARDS TO GO: Before players can dig in to the new wagering format, there is still the business of closing out the current year. Live racing at the Meadowlands will be conducted this Thursday through Saturday (Dec. 27-29) with a post time of 7:15 p.m.

The opportunities to make a score will be plentiful, as during the course of the 38 races, 36 will offer at least nine betting interests while 25 with have the full 10 wagering possibilities.

The track’s 50-Cent Pick-5 will have its usual $25,000 guaranteed pool while the 50-Cent Pick-4 will offer a $35,000 promise on Thursday and $50,000 on Friday and Saturday.

Free program pages are available at www.ustrotting.com and www.playmeadowlands.com.

RON BURKE NAMED TRAINER OF THE YEAR FOR THE THIRD TIME; BURKE RACING / WEAVER BRUSCEMI TEAM GARNERS SECOND OWNERS’ TROPHY

HARRISBURG PA -- It seems fitting that as the spotlight finds Foiled Again in his last campaign, it also finds his trainer and his ownership, who have been instrumental in the tremendous success of the horse – Ron Burke has been named Trainer of the Year for the third time (2011 and 2013 previously), while the Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC combine will follow their 2013 Owners of the Year prize with another in 2018, in voting conducted by the U.S. Harness Writers Association (USHWA).

Ron Burke, who as noted took over the training of the Burke Stable in late October 2008, has been an unstoppable force the last ten years, achieving success levels unreached in the sport. He will reach 1000 victories with his far-flung barn in 2018, his third time posting four figures, and his stable will top the $21 million mark in purses won for the sixth year. For his outstanding 2018, Burke got more votes from USHWA than did any other human (one horse did top him, though – Foiled Again).

And as always, there was quality in with the quality. The stable sent out divisional champions Warrawee Ubeaut (2PF) and Dorsoduro Hanover (3PC and millionaire); these two teamed with Percy Blue Chip (3PF) to give Burke three Breeders Crown Championships during 2018. Seasoned pacers Filibuster Hanover and Rockin Ron also earned over $500,000, giving Burke Racing / Weaver Bruscemi five horses who took down over half a million; trainer Burke had a sixth in 3PF Youaremycandygirl. And then there was of course Foiled Again, who kept in good condition to race every year a Standardbred can race – 13, from the minimum of age two to the maximum of age fourteen.

Youaremycandygirl is an exception to the usual makeup of Ron Burke’s outfit – most of its horses are earned, in whole or in part, by Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. So if trainer Burke has a good year, it’s probable that Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC followed along in suit.

An important component of Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC is the amount that they give back to the sport which has provided them with successes and thrills. The Foiled Again Farewell Tour is a prime example. So too is their “policy” of usually having partners on most of their stakes horses – this is a way to give owners who might have a slight chance (to no chance) to have a Grand Circuit horses be a part of the excitement of campaigning a world-class competitor against the best in their division throughout the stakes season.

Foiled Again and his connections will be honored at USHWA’s annual Dan Patch Awards Banquet, celebrating the best and brightest of harness racing in the past year. The banquet honoring the champions of 2018 will be held on Sunday, February 24, 2019 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando FL, the climax of a weekend that also finds USHWA holding its annual national meetings.

Reservations for those attending can be made through USHWA’s website, www.ushwa.org; a link to the hotel’s computer is on the front page of the website. Those who would like to take out congratulatory ads for awardwinners in the always-popular Dan Patch Awards Journal can do so by contacting Kim Rinker at trotrink@aol.com (the 2018 journal is online at the writers’ website). Information about purchasing tickets for the dinner will become available and will be posted shortly.

CHAMPION PACER AND “FAN FAVORITE” FOILED AGAIN VOTED STAN BERGSTEIN – PROXIMITY AWARD BY THE UNITED STATES HARNESS WRITERS ASSOCIATION

HARRISBURG PA – Foiled Again, the highest-moneywinning Standardbred racehorse of all-time with $7,634,938 in his bankroll, in the final stages of a whirlwind Foiled Again Farewell Tour as he faces mandatory retirement upon reaching 15 years of age on January 1, has been selected for the Stan Bergstein / Proximity Award, the highest award in the sport voted on exclusively by the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA), harness racing’s leading media association.

Foiled Again is an altered son of Dragon Again out of the Artsplace mare In A Safe Place. He raced for trainer Herman Heitmann at two and three, and into his fourth year before being purchased by Sylvia Burke, Weaver Bruscemi LLC (Mark Weaver and Michael Bruscemi), and JJK Stables LLC (the late Joseph Koury Sr. and his sons Joseph Jr. and Kevin). Mickey Burke, Sylvia’s husband and Ron’s father, was transitioning from raceway activities to overseeing the younger horses, and he handled the conditioning of Foiled Again until Ron took over full-time training responsibility in November 2008.

Foiled Again reached his full potential under his new connections, staying a vital member of the free-for-all pacing community for half-a-dozen years. He was Older Pacing Horse of the Year in 2011, 2012, and 2013, during each of which he earned over $1 million. Foiled Again took his mark of 1:48 in 2013 at the age of nine, in the elimination race of the Ben Franklin Pace at Pocono, coming back the next week to win the Franklin Final and then later in the year to sweep his Breeders Crown action over the red clay.

Fans grew to embrace Foiled Again as he battled on at a high quality of performance over the years; they latched onto this “evergreen pacer” who they knew would always give them every ounce of his energy. Once he broke the record for earnings ($5.8 million by the trotter Ready Cash), he gained even more cache, and attracted media attention like few other Standardbreds (or any racehorse).

As he entered his 14^th year, perhaps a step or two off his peak speed but still competitive every time behind the gate, his connections decided to establish a “Foiled Again Farewell Tour,” matching him against local horses and letting fans around the United States and Canada give one last salute to the gallant pacer. He raced at eighteen different tracks during 2018, in ten different states and provinces, and seemed very little the worse for wear. When he raced at Harrah’s on December 9, he returned to a track where he had first raced 4165 days – 11 years, 4 months, and 25 days – earlier.

Foiled Again’s 331^st and final start comes on Monday at The Meadows, the home track of the Burkes and Weaver Bruscemi, and as has been noted, “it’s unlikely there will be a dry eye in the house.” (Start 330 came at Mohawk last Saturday, where Foiled Again posted career victory 109.)

Foiled Again is only the second horse to win the Bergstein – Proximity Award: the other was Rambling Willie, who was honored in 1984 after a career that strikingly parallels Foiled Again’s in longevity, earnings recordsetting, competitiveness in the free-for-all ranks for years, and popularity among the racegoing public. In an ever-changing world, Foiled Again reaches across 34 years to join another horse who didn’t know the meaning of the end of a mile, the end of a career, or making outstanding contributions to harness racing.

I’M SOME GRADUATE TAKES MEADOWLANDS FEATURE

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – I’m Some Graduate used a perfect pocket trip to upset Geez Joe in the $20,000 Preferred Handicap for pacers, the Saturday night feature at the Meadowlands.

Driver Yannick Gingras put I’m Some Graduate in play from post six and led at the quarter before Marcus Miller and Geez Joe stormed up on the outside from post eight to grab the top shortly thereafter. Geez Joe’s second fraction was a spirited :26.4 with a stiff wind at his back and the even-money favorite looked poised to take his fourth straight Big M victory.

Highlandbeachycove came calling to offer token pressure at the three-quarters while Gingras and I’m Some Graduate continued to wait patiently for their chance right in behind the leader.

Geez Joe still had a length on I’m Some Graduate at the head of the lane, but over a track that favored closers for the first half of the 14-race card, I’m Some Graduate rallied with a rush along the inside as Geez Joe tired in deep stretch to grab a 1½-length victory in 1:51. Ron Burke trainees finished 1-2 as Clouseau Hanover outkicked Geez Joe for second.

I’m Some Graduate, a 5-year-old gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere-Western Graduate, scored in his first Meadowlands start since March 10 and returned $8.00 as the second choice in the wagering. He’s won eight-of-31 starts this season and 14-of-62 lifetime, good for a bankroll of $268,578 for owners Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, Silva, Purnell, Libby and Karr.

DAVID’S FAB FIVE: Gingras had a superb night, winning four times, including the feature, but the driving star was David Miller, who scored five times on the program. Ron Burke led the trainers with three victories, all driven by Gingras.

A LITTLE MORE: 50-Cent Pick-5 players didn’t have to spread their tickets terribly wide to make a nice score. The winning odds during the sequence were 8-5, 5-1, 5-1, 6-1 and 3-1, creating a handsome payoff of $2,677. … The strong winds gave handicappers a challenging night, as the first half of the program saw horses win from off the pace, then speed took over for a handful of races, before the winds in their face in the stretch returned, turning the bias back to closers. … All-source wagering totaled $2,339,334. … Racing resumes Thursday at 7:15 p.m.

‘DIAMOND’ MUSCLES HIS WAY TO THIRD STRAIGHT BIG M FEATURE

Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – It would be hard to dispute that Muscle Diamond is the top trotter at the Meadowlands right now, as the Brett Bittle trainee won his third consecutive Preferred Handicap at the Big M Friday night despite not having raced in 35 days.

The 6-year-old son of Muscle Hill-Windylane Hanover, who ran his overall win streak to five, did not have the complete confidence of the wagering public despite his gaudy resume. Trolley, who was in search of his fourth straight Big M score, was sent to the gate as the 4-5 favorite, likely due in large part to the fact that all three of his recent wins came while Muscle Diamond was on the shelf.

With some aggressive Marcus Miller handling, Trolley made the lead just after a sizzling opening quarter of :26.3. David Miller was content to sit a five-hole with Muscle Diamond and did not vacate the rail until the five-eighths with plenty of work to do.

But he was up to the task.

Muscle Diamond took aim at Trolley and gradually chipped away at that one’s edge but was still a length behind at the head of the stretch, but at the eighth pole, David Miller hit the gas pedal and Muscle Diamond responded with wicked late trot on the way to an easy 3-length win in 1:52.1. Cash Me Out, a 14-1 long shot, outkicked Trolley for the place spot.

As the 2-1 second choice in the wagering, Muscle Diamond returned $6.00 to win for owners C. Keller III, C. Keller IV, E. Bittle and B. Bittle. He is now seven-for-13 this year, while lifetime, he’s won 19-of-53 and earned $775,199.

SHOW ME THE MONET: Earlier on the card, David Miller guided another outstanding trotter, Melady’s Monet, to his second straight Meadowlands win since coming back from a six-month layoff.

The 9-year-old gelded son of Revenue S-Keystone Melady, a lifetime earner of more than $1.3 million, sailed past Tuonoblu Rex in mid-stretch on the way to a 1-length score in 1:53.1 as the 6-5 favorite in the non-winners of $15,000 event.

Could he be headed for the Preferred Handicap and a date with Muscle Diamond down the road?

A LITTLE MORE: For the second straight night, there was a single winning ticket in the 20-Cent Survivor Pick-10. That player, who made it through eight legs, cashed in for a hefty $14,117. … Multiple drivers had multiple wins on the card: David Miller, Yannick Gingras and Corey Callahan all had three while Brett Miller scored twice. … All-source wagering on the 14-race card totaled $2,468,454. … Racing resumes Saturday night with another huge 14-race program. The first race goes at 7:15 p.m.

THREE DRIVERS DOUBLE UP AT BIG M

  

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Andy Miller kept on rolling, Bill Mann fans cashed some big tickets and Dexter Dunn continued to prove he can drive on the big stage Thursday night at the Meadowlands.

Miller, fresh off being named the track’s Driver of the Week after having won five races over the course of last week’s (Dec. 13-14) pair of racing programs, swept the Early Daily Double.

Sergeant Seelster was a catch drive for Andy as David Miller did not drive on the card, and Andy moved the Mark Silva trainee to the top at the half and reported home a winner in 1:56 at odds of 5-1. Andy then scored on the front end with even-money favorite Ideal Romance – who won for the fifth time in six starts – to complete the double, which returned $26.20.

But it was Bill Mann who gave his fans’ Christmas bankrolls a big boost.

Mann scored in the fourth race with the longest-priced winner of the night – 13-1 chance Fox Valley Bailey – and returned $29.60, taking the middle leg of the 50-Cent Pick-5, which came back $466.95.

‘Bill the Mann’ was back at it again in the ninth, scoring with the evening’s second longest-priced winner, Our Els Dream N, who paid $18.00. For those savvy enough to make a $20 win bet on Mann’s only two drives of the night, they showed a profit of $436.

Not to be out-Dunn was New Zealand native Dexter, who entered the night tied for fourth in the Big M driver standings. Dunn scored in the sixth race with 5-1 shot Redonkulous before getting up on the wire in a thrilling stretch duel in the 10^th and final, guiding 5-2 second choice Smooth Mocha past 8-5 favorite Spanish Art by an eyelash.

A LITTLE MORE: One sharp player was the only bettor to last six legs in the 20-Cent Survivor Pick-10 and walked away with $10,481. … Mann and Vincent Fusco Jr. each trained a pair of winners on the program. … All-source wagering on the card totaled $1,152,114. … Racing resumes Friday at 7:15 p.m. with an ultra-competitive 14-race program.

Monticello Raceway Seeks 14-year Olds

By: Shawn Wiles

Decades ago the great PR guru John Manzi came up with the idea of conducting a race for 14-year-old equines for their last start of their racing career. This unique niche event has been duplicated many times over the years by many tracks.

Monticello Raceway Race Secretary Eric Warner is searching for 14-year-old pacers to participate in an Invitational Pace on Monday December 31 for a purse of $5000, check the Condition sheet for more details. Anyone interested should contact the Racing Office at 845 794 4100 ext. 557 or ewarner@empireresorts.com

DIVISIONAL WINNERS OF DAN PATCH PACING AWARDS ANNOUNCED

McWicked and Shartin N, ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the sport’s year-end poll, were landslide winners for division honors among pacers in Dan Patch Award voting released Thursday by the U.S. Harness Writers Association. Shartin N, a 5-year-old mare, was named best older female pacer on all but one ballot while McWicked, a 7-year-old stallion, was named best older male pacer on all but three. 

Also named division winners were 2-year-old colt Captain Crunch, 2-year-old filly Warrawee Ubeaut, 3-year-old gelding Dorsoduro Hanover, and 3-year-old filly Kissin In The Sand. All of the winners with the exception of Dorsoduro Hanover received at least 90 percent of the vote in their division. Dorsoduro Hanover won, 65-53, over runner-up Courtly Choice in the closest divisional balloting among either pacers or trotters this year.

A total of 130 Dan Patch Award ballots were returned by eligible members of the U.S. Harness Writers Association and American Harness Racing Secretaries. Dan Patch Award winners will be honored at the organization’s banquet Feb. 24 at Rosen Shingle Creek resort in Orlando, Fla., at which time Trotter, Pacer, and Horse of the Year will be announced.

Divisional trotting champions were announced Wednesday.

McWicked led the sport in earnings this year, with $1.57 million. He became the first horse older than the age of 5 to top the money standings since 7-year-old trotter Savoir in 1975. McWicked also became the oldest male pacer to ever win a Dan Patch Award at age 2 or 3 and capture another trophy as an older horse. His first honor came at 3 in 2014.

For the season, McWicked won 12 of 19 races, capping his campaign with a five-race win streak, and hit the board a total of 17 times. His victories included the $500,000 Ben Franklin Pace, $471,100 William R. Haughton Memorial, $462,000 Canadian Pacing Derby, $430,000 Breeders Crown, $350,000 TVG Series Open championship, $250,000 Dan Rooney Invitational, and $179,000 Allerage Farms Open. His 1:46.2 clocking in the Allerage was the second-fastest race mile in history.

Brian Sears was McWicked’s primary driver, but David Miller also posted Grand Circuit wins with the Casie Coleman-trained stallion. McWicked, a son of McArdle out of Western Sahara, is owned by Ed James’ S S G Stables. He was bred by Andray Farm.

Shartin N became the first pacing mare to earn $1 million in a season, finishing the year with $1.05 million thanks to 19 wins in 24 races. The New Zealand-bred mare joins Hall of Famer Cardigan Bay as a “Down Under” import to receive a Dan Patch Award. Cardigan Bay, also from New Zealand, was a two-time honoree (1965 and 1968).

Trained by Jim King Jr. and driven by Tim Tetrick, Shartin N’s wins included the $373,000 Blue Chip Matchmaker Series championship, $281,200 Roses Are Red, $270,000 Breeders Crown, $197,400 Lady Liberty, $175,000 TVG Series Mare championship, $161,000 Artiscape, $150,000 Betsy Ross Invitational, $102,200 Chip Noble Memorial, and $98,500 Allerage Farms Mare Pace. She also finished the year with a five-race win streak.

Shartin N, a daughter of Tintin In America out of Bagdarin, is owned by Richard Poillucci and Jo Ann Looney-King. She was bred by GJ Crabbe.

Dorsoduro Hanover got the nod among 3-year-old male pacers after leading the division with $1.28 million in purses, the second-highest total in the sport. He won 10 of 22 races, with his victories including the $530,000 Breeders Crown, $400,000 Delvin Miller Adios, and $253,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship. He also had six second-place finishes, including in the Meadowlands Pace and Little Brown Jug.

Ron Burke trained the gelding, who was driven by Matt Kakaley. Dorsoduro Hanover is owned by Sylvia Burke’s Burke Racing Stable, the partnership of Jerry Silva, Theresa Silva, Purnel Jones Jr. and Elizabeth Jones, the partnership of Mark Weaver and Mike Bruscemi, and the Wingfield Five (Bradley, Charles, Kimberly, Robert and Thomas Wingfield). The son of Somebeachsomewhere out of Deer Valley Miss was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms.

Two-year-old filly Warrawee Ubeaut also is part of the Burke Brigade. She won seven of 12 races and earned a division-leading $646,995 for trainer Burke and driver Yannick Gingras. Her wins included the $600,000 Breeders Crown and $207,000 Kentuckiana Stallion Management Stakes. In addition, her 1:48.3 victory in a $61,250 division of the International Stallion Stakes at Red Mile made her the fastest 2-year-old pacer in history.

Warrawee Ubeaut is owned by Sylvia Burke’s Burke Racing Stable, Phil Collura, the partnership of Jerry Silva, Theresa Silva, Purnel Jones Jr. and Elizabeth Jones, and the partnership of Mark Weaver and Mike Bruscemi. A daughter of Sweet Lou out of Great Memories, she was bred by Warrawee Farm.

Three-year-old filly Kissin In The Sand and 2-year-old colt Captain Crunch both are from the stable of trainer Nancy Johansson and were driven by Scott Zeron.

Kissin In The Sand won 10 of 15 races and never finished worse than second on her way to a division-best $845,495 in purses. Her wins included the $300,000 James M. Lynch Memorial, $253,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship, $191,800 Mistletoe Shalee, and $126,000 Bluegrass Stakes. She was second in the Breeders Crown and Fan Hanover.

Marvin Katz and Bud Hatfield’s Hatfield Stables own Kissin In The Sand, who is a daughter of Somebeachsomewhere out of Kiss Me Kate. The filly was bred by Christina Takter, John Fielding, RAW Equine, and Concord Stud Farm.

Captain Crunch won six of 10 races and earned a division-leading $616,113. His triumphs included the $600,000 Breeders Crown and $469,300 Governor’s Cup.

He is owned by 3 Brothers Stables (Alan, Ron and Steve Katz), Christina Takter, Norman and Robert Aerenson’s Rojan Stables, and Judy and Buck Chaffee’s Caviart Farms. Captain Crunch, a son of Captaintreacherous out of Sweet Paprika, was bred by Walnridge Farm and Sherri Meirs.

The remainder of the Dan Patch awardwinners will be announced in a series of three releases starting next Wednesday, the 26^th, and concluding on Friday the 28^th.

For more information about the Dan Patch Awards banquet and Rosen Shingle Creek resort, visit the U.S. Harness Writers Association’s website.

2-YEAR-OLD MALE PACER

Captain Crunch (126 votes/96.9 percent)
Captaintreacherous – Sweet Paprika – Artiscape
Yearling price: $85,000 under the name Captain Bean at Standardbred Horse Sale
Breeders: Walnridge Farm, Sherri Meirs
Owners: 3 Brothers Stables, Christina Takter, Rojan Stables, Caviart Farms
Trainer: Nancy Johansson Driver: Scott Zeron
Races: 10-6-1-1 Purses: $616,113 Mark: 1:49.1 at Red Mile
Top wins: $600,000 Breeders Crown; $469,300 Governor’s Cup

2-YEAR-OLD FEMALE PACER

Warrawee Ubeaut (124 votes/95.3 percent)
Sweet Lou – Great Memories – Apaches Fame
Yearling price: $70,000 at Lexington Selected Sale

Breeder: Warrawee Farm
Owners: Burke Racing Stable, Phil Collura, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby, Weaver Bruscemi

Trainer: Ron Burke Driver: Yannick Gingras
Races: 12-7-1-2 Purses: $646,995 Mark: 1:48.3 at Red Mile (world record)
Top wins: $600,000 Breeders Crown; $207,000 Kentuckiana Stallion Management Stakes

3-YEAR-OLD MALE PACER

Dorsoduro Hanover (65 votes/50 percent)
Somebeachsomewhere – Deer Valley Miss – Artsplace
Yearling price: $100,000 at Standardbred Horse Sale
Breeder: Hanover Shoe Farms
Owners: Burke Racing Stable, Silva, Purnel & Libby, Weaver Bruscemi, Wingfield Five
Trainer: Ron Burke Driver: Matt Kakaley
Races: 22-10-6-2 Purses: $1.28 million Mark: 1:49.4 at Pocono
Top wins: $530,000 Breeders Crown; $400,000 Adios

3-YEAR-OLD FEMALE PACER

Kissin In The Sand (117 votes/90 percent)
Somebeachsomewhere – Kiss Me Kate – Real Artist
Yearling price: $130,000 at Standardbred Horse Sale
Breeders: Christina Takter, John Fielding, RAW Equine, Concord Stud Farm
Owners: Marvin Katz, Hatfield Stables
Trainer: Nancy Johansson Driver: Scott Zeron
Races: 15-10-5-0 Purses: $845,495 Mark: 1:47.4 at Red Mile
Top wins: $300,000 Lynch Memorial; $191,800 Mistletoe Shalee

OLDER MALE PACER
McWicked (127 votes/97.6 percent)
McArdle – Western Sahara – Western Ideal
Yearling price: $35,000 at Standardbred Horse Sale
Breeder: Andray Farm
Owner: S S G Stables
Trainer: Casie Coleman Drivers: Brian Sears, David Miller
Races: 19-12-3-2 Purses: $1.57 million Mark: 1:46.2 at Red Mile
Top wins: $500,000 Ben Franklin; $471,100 Haughton Memorial; $462,000 Canadian Pacing Derby; $430,000 Breeders Crown

OLDER FEMALE PACER
Shartin N (129 votes/99.2 percent)
Tintin In America – Bagdarin – Live Or Die
Yearling price: None, sold privately at age 4
Breeder: G J Crabbe
Owners: Richard Poillucci, Jo Ann Looney-King
Trainer: Jim King Jr. Driver: Tim Tetrick
Races: 24-19-1-0 Purses: $1.05 million Mark: 1:48.2 at Red Mile
Top wins: $373,000 Blue Chip Matchmaker final; $281,200 Roses Are Red; $270,000 Breeders Crown; $197,400 Lady Liberty

BIG FIELDS MEAN BIG ACTION AT BIG M

Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – If your Christmas bankroll needs a boost, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to cash a big ticket this weekend at the Meadowlands.

The mile oval will serve up a 10-race ‘appetizer’ on Thursday, before a pair of cards that would qualify anywhere as a ‘main course’, with 14 races on both Friday and Saturday. Post time for all three evenings of live racing is 7:15 p.m.

Big fields will rule throughout the next-to-last three-card race week of the year at the Big M, with 29 of the 38 races featuring full 10-horse fields.

“Big fields are what bettors want,” said Jason Settlemoir, the track’s chief operating officer and general manager. “Our fans will have plenty of chances to make a score over the course of the three programs.”

Settlemoir also had this message: “At this time, I’d also like to wish everyone on staff here at Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment, as well as all of our owners, trainers, drivers and grooms, and, of course, our faithful fans, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.”

GUARANTEED DEEP POOLS: On Friday and Saturday night, the track will offer its $25,000 guaranteed 50-Cent Pick-5 as well as its 50-Cent Pick-4, which has a $50,000 pool promise. Both wagers have a low 15 percent takeout and free program pages are available at both www.playmeadowlands.com and www.ustrotting.com.

HIGH-FIVE CARRYOVER IN TORONTO: Simulcast fans are sure to have big interest in the final race on the Saturday (Dec. 22) card at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Assuming the Jackpot Super High-Five is not hit Thursday or Friday, Saturday will bring a gigantic pot of gold since the track will have a mandatory payout on the wager.

The current carryover (before the start of Thursday’s card) is at C$324,890.

THE BIG WINNERS: Last weekend, driver Andy Miller and trainer Nick Surick, who are a remarkably potent pair at Freehold Raceway, did plenty of damage at the Meadowlands.

During the course of last week’s two programs (Dec. 13-14), Andy Miller visited the winner’s circle five times. Leading driver Andy McCarthy won four while Brett Miller had three victories.

Surick topped all trainers with three scores after taking the final three races on the Thursday (Dec. 13) card. Jamie Gerard had a pair of horses visit the winner's circle.

KLEINHANS TO CALL: Tonight marks the third of four “Borrow Ken’s Binoculars” Thursdays at the Big M as the voice of the track, Ken Warkentin, takes a seat on the set of the live “Racing from the Meadowlands” simulcast show as well as the SportsNet New York recap production.

Serving as track announcer will be Pete Kleinhans, a longtime horseman and occasional fill-in on the Big M’s TV shows. Kleinhans has called at many tracks over the years, including stints as the regular announcer at the now-defunct Lakeshore Meadows, as well as Hoosier Park, Chester Downs (now Harrah’s Philadelphia) and The Red Mile.

NFL SATURDAY ACTION: A pair of National Football League games with playoff ramifications take place on Saturday (Dec. 22), and Meadowlands’ fans cannot only bet on a superb card of harness racing, but also make wagers on the NFL doubleheader.

The track’s FanDuel Sportsbook will take action on the Washington Redskins-Tennessee Titans tilt (which kicks off at 4:30 p.m.) as well as the Baltimore Ravens-Los Angeles Chargers game (8:20 p.m.).

Sports betting enthusiasts are reminded that the hours at the sports book are Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-1 a.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-2 a.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m.-2 a.m. and Sunday, 8 a.m.-1 a.m. (the sports book will close when all live U.S. events have been completed).

PAY NOTHING, HIT BIG: On Saturday (Dec. 22), the Big M is hosting a handicapping tournament, and patrons are sure to love the entry fee: Nothing!

The rules: Each participant makes mythical $2 across-the-board wagers (win, place and show) on selections for races two through 10 at the Meadowlands. Contestants must make their mythical selections prior to the second race on the official contest entry form and turn them into a contest official. 

If a horse is scratched, the participant receives the post-time favorite, and if the Meadowlands cancels due to inclement weather, the contest is canceled. The winner will be determined by the highest total mythical bankroll at the conclusion of the 10^th race and will receive a $1,300 spot in the World Harness Handicapping Championship Final on April 6, 2019.

For more details on the WHHC, go to http://playmeadowlands.com/contest_detail.aspx?id=8240.

BARTLETT, ALLARD WIN 2018 YONKERS’ DRIVER, TRAINER TITLES

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Thursday, December 20, 2018—To the surprise of very few, Jason Bartlett and Rene Allard were Yonkers Raceway’s leading 2018 driver and trainer, respectively.

The 237-program season (one postponement), which concluded this past Sunday (Dec. 16^th), saw Bartlett roll along to an eighth local title.

The 37-year-old Bartlett, originally from Augusta, ME, was both the winningest (485) and busiest (2,328) driver, winning at a 20.8 percent clip. His $8.8 million in purses also led the list.

Jordan Stratton was again second, this time with 371 wins and $7.3 million in purses, with the top five win list completed by George Brennan (345), Jim Marohn Jr. (167) and Brent Holland (164

).

Allard, a 31-year-old Quebecois now operating out of Matamoras, PA, took down the Westchester prize for the second time in the last three seasons. He sent out 178 winners from 843 starters (21.1 percent winning percentage), leading in purses ($3.55 million). Scott DiDomenico (160 wins), Richard Banca (141) Ron Burke (113) and Jennifer Bongiorno (71) completed the first quintet among wins.  

The Raceway’s 234-program, 2019 season is set to begin Monday night (Jan. 7^th),  with a first post of 6:50 PM, A complete schedule accompanies this release, with all dates pending approval of the New York State Gaming Commission.

Meadowlands Celebrates the Fans this Holiday Weekend

Double points, discounts and a free handicapping contest highlight this weekend’s racing at Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment.

On Thursday, December 20, players club points are doubled and the lead promotion, "It’s Your Lucky Day," will return gambling losses for the day to one fortunate Players Club member.  Fans can also enter to win a grocery gift card, just in time for the Christmas holiday.

On Friday, fans will enjoy $1 beer and soda each time the selected driver, Andy Miller, wins a race. 

Saturday marks the final fan appreciation night for 2018.  $1 specials will be offered on hot dogs, sodas, pretzels and popcorn at the Café, Simulcast bar & Grandstand Lounge from 7-10 pm. 

A harness handicapping contest is also on tap for Saturday.  This free handicapping contest has a Grand Prize of a $1,300 seat into the World Harness Handicapping Championship presented by DerbyWars.

Fans may register up until 7:15 p.m. on the night of the contest. The contest format requires players to make a mythical $2 "across the board" wager on one horse in races 2 – 10 at the Meadowlands. The winner is determined by the player that amasses the largest mythical bankroll from their selections.

Details on these weekend promotions can be found at http://playmeadowlands.com/