By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media
Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – It what was
the most thrilling finish of the year at the Meadowlands, Highalator outlasted
a stubborn Bettor’s Edge by the smallest of noses in the Saturday night
feature, the $20,000 Preferred Handicap for pacers. Western Joe was third.
Driver Eric Abbatiello asked
Highalator for early speed, and the Jenny Bier trainee responded big time,
reaching the quarter in :26.2 while parked out. As the cadence slowed, Jennifer
Lappe put Bettor’s Edge in play, moving the veteran three wide at three-eighths
to go up after the leader, who hit the half in :55.2.
The battle was now on.
Highalator was at the rail with
Bettor’s Edge right alongside as the duo dueled nose-to-nose past the
five-eighths and three-quarters (1:21.3) before Highalator gained a length lead
at the head of the stretch.
The pair continued to go at it as
Bettor’s Edge inched closer through the lane and when he took one last lunge at
the wire, it appeared he may have gotten there in time. But he just missed.
Apparently, Abbatiello thought he got
caught. He had taken Highalator back to the paddock and had to be summoned to
the winner’s circle after his number was posted after the judges took several
minutes to examine the photo.
The winning time of 1:48 was a
lifetime best for Highalator, a 4-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere, who won
at the Big M on June 2 in 1:48.1. He’s now won seven-of-17 starts this year and
19-of-38 overall. He has lifetime earnings of $233,218 for owners Jenny Bier,
Joann Dombeck and Midsize Construction.
As the 4-5 favorite, Highalator paid
$3.80 to win.
MONEY MAKIN’ MILLENNIALS: New Jersey residents Aaron Staluzzi
of Wayne ($2,500), Dennis J. McKeon III ($1,500) of Keansburg and Eric Pollari
of Morris Plains ($1,000) were the big winners in the Big M’s free-to-enter
handicapping contest for patrons 18-30 years of age.
The $5,000 in prize money was
sponsored by Jeff and Paula Gural’s Allerage Farms.
A LITTLE MORE: Andy Miller drove four winners on the
card while Abbatiello had three. … The hot temperatures led to a lightning-fast
track that produced eight lifetime-best miles and one lifetime-best equaling
effort. … One lucky player was sharp enough to survive eight legs of the
20-Cent Survivor Pick 10 and collected $10,813. … The Late 20-Cent Jackpot
Super High-Five failed to result in a single-ticket winner, bloating the
carryover to $272,052. … All-source wagering on the 12-race card totaled
$1,975,759. … Racing resumes at the Big M Friday at 7:15 p.m. … Saturday’s card
gets underway at 6:35 p.m. and features eliminations for the Crawford Farms
Meadowlands Pace.
