By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media
Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Tuxedo Bay
proved that he belonged in the Preferred Handicap ranks on Jan. 12 when he
finished a heart-breaking second to a game Constntlysidewys A. Saturday night
in the Meadowlands’ weekly pacing feature, he scored some revenge.
Tuxedo Bay does his best racing on or
near the front end, and over a track that favored speed, driver Eric Carlson
rolled the 5-year-old gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere-Spring Break to the top
in a brisk :27 while parked. The Mark Silva trainee, sent to the gate as the
co-third choice in the wagering at 4-1, continued on the point to the half in
:55.3 as Constntlysidewys A, also 4-1, grinded his way toward the leader.
K Ryan Bluechip, the 3-2 favorite,
got a live tow from Constntlysidewys A and appeared to be in perfect striking
position second-over but did not fire through the stretch in a sub-par
performance. A determined Tuxedo Bay held off Constntlysidewys A through the
lane to record a three-quarter length win in a lifetime-best 1:50.2 over a
track with a minus one-second speed variant with temperatures right around the
freezing mark. Dover Downs invader Bags To Riches was third, with Divas Image
fourth and K Ryan Bluechip fifth.
Silva owns the winner, who returned
$10.40 to his backers. Tuxedo Bay now has 12 wins in 60 lifetime starts and
earnings of $156,518.
A LITTLE MORE: The dynamic duo of trainer Ron Burke
and driver Yannick Gingras were at it again, teaming up to win three races for
a second straight night, locking up Driver and Trainer of the Week honors. … As
usual, betting was strong in the 50-Cent Pick-4, as $104,363 was pushed through
the windows, reaching six figures for the fourth time in 2019. … In addition to
Gingras, Carlson also guided three horses to victory lane. … All-source
wagering was vigorous again, as a 2019-best $2,891,708 was bet on the 13-race
card, meaning that at least $2.5 million in action has been taken on seven of
the eight programs contested this year. … Racing resumes Friday at 7:15 p.m.
