By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media
Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – It was a
night for the bettors at the Meadowlands Friday night, with big carryovers in
the 50-Cent Pick-5 and Late 20-Cent Jackpot Super High-Five, as well as a third
straight 50-Cent Pick-4 that saw big action.
The Pick-5, which had a carryover of
$28,976, saw $192,177 in “new” money poured into the pot, for a total of
$221,153. For many, the wager played out as a Pick-4 would, as 4-5 favorite
Greenshoe won the payoff leg (Race seven) with ease. For those who had the
first four winners as well (the odds: 12-1, 6-1, 2-1 and 6-1), the payoff was a
handsome $3,536.
After failing to break the six-figure
barrier for two months, the 50-Cent Pick-4 reached the $100,000 mark for a
third straight time ($108,434), and after a sequence that saw winner’s odds of
2-1, 3-5, 3-1 and 4-5, the return of $71.40 was respectable given that two
odds-on favorites scored.
The 13th and last race of
the night was the big one, as the Late 20-Cent Jackpot Super High-Five had a
mandatory payout. The carryover heading in was $276,939, and after an
additional $260,783 was wagered, the total pool was a gigantic $537,722. Those
holding tickets with the winning combination of 1-3-10-7-4 cashed in big,
walking away with $76,472.76.
SUTTON SCORES IN FEATURE: Sutton ($6.40 to win as the second
choice) took the feature, the $20,000 Preferred Handicap for trotters,
impressively for Team Orange Crush, driver Andy and trainer Julie Miller.
The 5-year-old son of Donato Hanover
stopped the clock in a lifetime-best 1:50.4. It was 2½ lengths back to
second-place finisher Dunbar Hall. Sutton won for the 10th time in
35 career starts and upped his lifetime earnings to $503,288.
MELANDER AND SEARS DOUBLE UP: Trainer Marcus Melander and driver
Brian Sears scored twice on the card with heavy favorites.
Greenshoe ($3.60) took the New Jersey
Sire Stakes final for 2-year-old colts and geldings on the trot in 1:53.3 to
remain unbeaten in two pari-mutuel starts, while Speed Titan ($3.20) hit the
wire in 1:56.1 in her first-ever betting race in taking her division of the
Kindergarten Classic for 2-year-old trotting fillies.
A LITTLE MORE: David Miller recorded a natural hat
trick, driving the winners of the last three races on the card, including 12-1
shot Super S Yzerman, who topped the JSH5. … All-source wagering totaled
$2,790,750. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:35 p.m. and features the $701,830
Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace. Overall, more than $2.5 million is up for
grabs over the course of seven stakes events on the 14-race card. … At 11 a.m.,
a new era in Big M history will begin as wagers on professional sports events
will be offered in the track’s new Fanduel Sports Book @ Victory Sports Bar.
