By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media
Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Week in and
week out Bettor’s Edge has used his high turn of gate speed to battle top-quality
stock at the Meadowlands but had yet to win in 2018 even though his resume
showed five straight on-the-board finishes heading into Saturday night’s
featured $20,000 Preferred Handicap for pacers.
So this time, he tried it from off
the pace, and it resulted in his first victory of the year.
In the early going, Rodeo Romeo sped
to the top at the quarter in :26.4 before 3-5 public choice Awesomeness, in
search of his third straight win, made his way to the point just before the
three-eighths. The favorite hit the half in :55.1 as Bettor’s Edge started his
march toward the leaders while racing uncovered from the back of the pack.
Rodeo Romeo, sent off at 15-1, popped
out of the pocket on the far turn to challenge Awesomeness and had a nose in
front as they turned for home while Bettor’s Edge picked up that cover.
Brett Miller then tipped Bettor’s
Edge to the outside with an eighth of a mile to go and the lifetime $2 million
earner blew by the dueling leaders to win by a half-length in 1:50.1, sprinting
the final quarter in :26.2. Awesomeness held second with Western Fame finishing
third in his first start of the year.
Was it a conscious decision to not
leave the gate?
“Yes. It was a great audible on
Brett’s part,” said winning trainer Jennifer Lappe. “And when he got away last
I knew my horse was going to love it. It was a refreshing change for him. He’s
been used hard in all of his starts since the layoff and all he needed to do
was race with a breather early.”
Bettor’s Edge returned $13.60 to win
as the fourth choice in the wagering for owners Lappe and Robert Santagata.
Lifetime, the 9-year-old gelded son of Bettor’s Delight has won 37 of 164
starts.
A LITTLE MORE: Great Vintage, driven by Yannick
Gingras and trained by Jimmy Takter, took the seventh race conditioned pace in
1:49.2, which equaled the second-fastest North American mile of the year. Only
Major Uptrend has gone faster, by virtue of his 1:49 clocking at Dover Downs on
Feb. 15. … The Pick-4 pool surpassed the $90,000 mark for a third straight Saturday
($91,904) and after a sequence that included a pair of favorites, the payout
was $351.40 for a 50-cent bet. … Anthony Napolitano drove three winners on the
program while Jim Pantaleano and Gingras had two apiece. … The Late 20-Cent
Jackpot Super High Five failed to result in a single-ticket winner, upping the
carryover to $139,614. … All-source wagering totaled $2,875,940, the second
highest handle of 2018. … Racing resumes at the Big M Friday at 6:35 p.m.
