By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media
Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – I’m Some
Graduate used a perfect pocket trip to upset Geez Joe in the $20,000 Preferred
Handicap for pacers, the Saturday night feature at the Meadowlands.
Driver Yannick Gingras put I’m Some
Graduate in play from post six and led at the quarter before Marcus Miller and
Geez Joe stormed up on the outside from post eight to grab the top shortly
thereafter. Geez Joe’s second fraction was a spirited :26.4 with a stiff wind
at his back and the even-money favorite looked poised to take his fourth
straight Big M victory.
Highlandbeachycove came calling to
offer token pressure at the three-quarters while Gingras and I’m Some Graduate
continued to wait patiently for their chance right in behind the leader.
Geez Joe still had a length on I’m
Some Graduate at the head of the lane, but over a track that favored closers
for the first half of the 14-race card, I’m Some Graduate rallied with a rush
along the inside as Geez Joe tired in deep stretch to grab a 1½-length victory
in 1:51. Ron Burke trainees finished 1-2 as Clouseau Hanover outkicked Geez Joe
for second.
I’m Some Graduate, a 5-year-old
gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere-Western Graduate, scored in his first
Meadowlands start since March 10 and returned $8.00 as the second choice in the
wagering. He’s won eight-of-31 starts this season and 14-of-62 lifetime, good
for a bankroll of $268,578 for owners Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, Silva,
Purnell, Libby and Karr.
DAVID’S FAB FIVE: Gingras had a superb night, winning
four times, including the feature, but the driving star was David Miller, who
scored five times on the program. Ron Burke led the trainers with three
victories, all driven by Gingras.
A LITTLE MORE: 50-Cent Pick-5 players didn’t have to
spread their tickets terribly wide to make a nice score. The winning odds
during the sequence were 8-5, 5-1, 5-1, 6-1 and 3-1, creating a handsome payoff
of $2,677. … The strong winds gave handicappers a challenging night, as the
first half of the program saw horses win from off the pace, then speed took over
for a handful of races, before the winds in their face in the stretch returned,
turning the bias back to closers. … All-source wagering totaled $2,339,334. …
Racing resumes Thursday at 7:15 p.m.
