By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media
Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Crazy Wow and
Blue Moon Stride were victorious in their respective 2018 debuts, winning the
Friday night co-features at the Meadowlands.
Crazy Wow took the $20,000 Preferred
Handicap for trotters by three-quarters-of-a-length over Mambo Lindy in 1:52.2.
New Jersey Viking, who was coupled in the wagering with the winner, finished
third.
The Ron Burke trainee did not have an
easy time of it as he was forced into the three-hole early and was still in
tight in deep stretch, but a patient David Miller finally found some room along
the pylons after Fly On vacated the pocket and Crazy Wow had more than enough
trot to record the victory while holding off the late-charging Mambo Lindy.
As the 3-5 favorite, Crazy Wow
returned $3.20 to win.
Blue Moon Stride worked out a perfect
pocket trip to take the $20,000 Preferred Handicap for pacing fillies and mares
by a head over a stubborn Inverse Hanover in 1:50.2. Cousin Mary was third.
Hoosier Park invader Inverse Hanover
was after her fourth straight score and almost got it, leading at every call
but the last. Corey Callahan timed his move with Blue Moon Stride perfectly and
the pair needed every inch of the stretch to get up in time.
A 5-year-old daughter of Rocknroll
Hanover who is trained by Nifty Norman, Blue Moon Stride returned $6.00 to win
as the second choice in the wagering. Darlinonthebeach, the 8-5 public choice,
finished fourth, earning just enough to become harness racing’s newest
millionaire.
A LITTLE MORE: Burke had a training triple on the
card, Yannick Gingras a driving double. … Make it 11 straight pools of at least
$88,000 for the track’s signature Pick-4 wager. A total of $103,275 was bet,
serving as the catalyst for the total wagered on the seventh race, $308,388. …
The Late 20-Cent Jackpot Super High-Five carryover continues to grow. That
number is now $204,269 after the bet failed to result in a single-ticket
winner. … Total handle for the 10-race card was $2,185,205. … One lucky winner
walked away with $18,823 for being the only player to make it through seven
legs of the 20-Cent Survivor Pick-10. … Racing resumes Saturday at 7:15 p.m.
