By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media
Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Off a pair of
respectable tries, it was clear that K Ryan Bluechip could be competitive at
the non-winners of $15,000 level at the Meadowlands, but what remained
uncertain was, could he beat them?
Now we know.
In the Saturday night conditioned
pacing feature at the Big M, Maroma Beach was the slight 8-5 public choice and
hit the quarter first in :27. K Ryan Bluechip, fourth in the early going, was
up to engage the leader at the half (:55) and the pair continued to battle to
the three-quarter mark (1:22.4).
But instead of caving in after going
first-over, K Ryan Bluechip continued to find more, powering away from Maroma
Beach through the stretch to record a 1½-length win in the $16,000 event. Tact
Tate N (the 9-5 second choice) rallied for second while Maroma Beach settled
for third.
K Ryan Bluechip, who paid $7.00 to
win as the third choice in the wagering, is trained by Virgil Morgan Jr., was
driven by Brett Miller and is owned by Carl Howard and Brian Witt. A veteran
with a lifetime mark of 1:49.2 taken last year at the Red Mile, K Ryan Bluechip
is a 6-year-old son of Art Major-Fool That I Am who completed his mile in
1:50.2 in winning for the sixth time this year in 30 starts. Lifetime, he’s
29-for-96 and has earned $368,804.
A LITTLE MORE: All-source handle on the 12-race card
was $2,113,898, the fifth straight Saturday where wagering topped the $2
million mark. … The 50-Cent Pick-4 pool came close to reaching six figures for
a second straight Saturday, coming up just short at $98,454. … Driver Corey
Callahan had three winners on the program while Mike Merton, Brett Miller and
Dexter Dunn had two apiece. … The Big M’s schedule will change slightly for the
month of December as the track will add Thursdays to its race week, effective
immediately, with the usual 7:15 p.m. post time. Take note that there will be
no live racing on Saturday, Dec. 15, with the New York Jets hosting the Houston
Texans at MetLife Stadium.
