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.
