By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media
Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – If you were
wondering whether Ron Burke trainees could be bet with confidence off a layoff,
wonder no more. The answer is a resounding “Yes!”.
Burke, and his go-to driver Yannick
Gingras, teamed up to win three times on the Friday card at the Meadowlands,
all with horses who have been out of action for a while.
The potent pair got their evening
underway in the third race trot for non-winners of $16,000 in their last five
starts as 6-5 favorite Misslarose scored by a half-length in 1:54.4 after
making the top at the half-mile marker. The 5-year-old daughter of Majestic
Son-Marion Chocolata qualified on Jan. 19 but had not been in a pari-mutuel
race since Dec. 21.
Tearful Of Happy, a 5-year-old
daughter of Bettor’s Delight-Tear Drop, was next, overcoming post 10 and a
35-day layoff to storm home a 4½-length winner in 1:53 in the fourth race
fillies and mares non-winners of $3,500 pace as the even-money public choice
for her third win in four starts.
Burke and Gingras capped their
three-bagger in the eighth race non-winners of $5,000 trot with 8-5 second
choice Resita, who had not been seen since Dec. 28. The 5-year-old gelded son
of Manofmanymissions-Winkys Magik made a huge move on the far turn on the way
to a 4¾-length score in 1:54.2.
Gingras would go on to another win on
the card, but his fourth victory of the night would come for trainer Jules
Czermann Jr. in the 10th race pace for $7,500 claimers with 3-1
third choice Pop Pop Joe, an 8-year-old gelding by Royal Mattjesty-Ashlee’s
Way.
A LITTLE MORE: Wagering on the Big M’s signature
bet, the 50-Cent Pick-4, was vigorous as $100,658 was poured into the pot, the
third time in 2019 that pool has reached six figures. … Driver Josert Fonseca
and trainer Katie Remmerswaal teamed up to win the fifth race with 13-1
longshot Magic N Spice, and in the process, both registered their first-ever
wins at the Big M. … All-source wagering on the 13-race card was $2,571,729. …
Racing resumes Saturday at 7:15 p.m.
