Much has been said regarding The Meadowlands betting handle in the
last few days. On Friday night, the bettors made a statement of their
own. The total handle of $3,229,341 eclipsed the 2012 same day total of
$2,301,594 by $927,747 or 40 percent. In addition it was the 2nd
best bet Friday card of the 2013 betting season and the 15th time
the total handle has eclipsed $3 Million this season.
On the racetrack, it was the Corey Callahan show, as Callahan won
four races and it would have been five if not for Tonato of Love going
off-stride near the wire of the first race. Callahan is having a monster
2013 campaign and has asserted himself as one of the top drivers on harness
racing’s biggest stage.
Among Friday's Meadowlands features
was the third round of the Rags to Riches series. After having
victory snatched from his grasp in the first race, Corey Callahan dusted
himself off and climbed aboard favored Cane Ridge in race two, the first Rags
To Riches division.
A quick opener of :26.2 left little question of Callahan's
intentions, though Laguna Beach found
himself without a seat when the music quieted and raced parked out. A generous
:58.2 middle half breather left Cane Ridge the energy to sprint home in :27.2
with minimal effort to equal his career best of 1:52.1.
Doug Dilloian, Jr. has his charge in excellent form heading into
next week's $60,850 final for owner Darius Oshidar of Wrightstown, NJ.
In the second Rags to Riches split, Cambassador rewarded his
faithful followers with an impressive forwardly placed romp. John Campbell
picked up the mount tonight for owner-trainer Mark Silva and moved the winner
to the front just by the quarter. From there on he endured nary an anxious
moment guiding the slight favorite to a geared down score over double leg
winner Hopskipanajump in 1:52.2.
Ice Machine has developed into a solid top class trotter
and he doesn't mind a little air. He drew a middle post in the $30,000 trotting
feature and Callahan left for position, landing fourth in the early stages. The
presence of heavy favorite Tall Cotton on the lead off a leisurely :58- first
half did not deter Ice Machine's brave first over assault. He wore down the
favorite in late stretch and held off the late charge of Opening Night to
prevail in 1:54.1.
Ice Machine is a graduate of the Bob Key academy for top horses,
being part of a family Key has cultivated for several generations.
It was just one of three training wins on the night for Walt
Carroll. He also sent out Spectator K for Mr. Key and Westside Lindy, who
he and wife Beth own in partnership with Jonathan Klee Racing.
The distaff pacing feature was won by...wait for it...Corey
Callahan! This one was with the good mare Monochromatic for Delaware
connections; trainer Dylan Davis and owners North Street Stables. It was
an action-filled event for Monochromatic, used hard to make front well
past a demanding :26- first quarter, then yielding to a well-meant
Unred Hanover for a pocket breather. She mustered another move in deep stretch
when called upon and prevailed by a neck in 1:51.2.
Racing returns with a twelve race program on Saturday featuring
harness racing’s best bet, the $75,000 Guaranteed Late Pick 4 with Post Time at
7:15 P.M.
