By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media
Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Perfect
conditions and ultra-competitive racing led to the biggest betting night of the
year at the Meadowlands, as a total of $3,166,920 was pushed through the
windows during the 13-race Saturday night program. It was the second time
during 2019 that wagering exceeded $3 million.
The night got off to a fast start at
the industry’s handle leader as $303,044 was wagered in the first race, with
$79,108 of that poured into the 50-Cent Pick-5 pot. Not surprisingly, the
second most money was wagered in the eighth race – $299,848 – with $115,218
wagered into the 50-Cent Pick-4 pool. The total bet in both the Pick-5 and
Pick-4 were yearly bests.
The month of February has seen six
racing programs at the Big M. On those programs, a total of $17,529,832 has
been wagered, for an average per card of $2,921,638.
In the featured $21,000 Preferred
Handicap for pacers, K Ryan Bluechip got back in the win column for the first
time in six weeks, pulling off a surprise at odds of 7-1 in 1:50.4.
The red-hot Tuxedo Bay, sent to the
gate as the 4-5 favorite in search of a third straight score in the weekly
feature, had a rough go of it. Pushed four-wide into the first turn, driver
Eric Carlson had to use his horse hard to reach the quarter on the front end in
:26.
A rated second panel of :28 would
follow, but K Ryan Bluechip, who was away early in fifth, was now making good
progress while racing first over. KRB got to within a half-length of the public
choice at three-quarters before powering past to lead by 1¼ lengths with
three-sixteenths of a mile to go.
Through the stretch, the Virgil
Morgan-trained, Andy Miller-driven K Ryan Bluechip maintained his edge as
Tuxedo Bay weakened, and after a leisurely final quarter of :28.4, K Ryan
Bluechip had his second victory in the Preferred ranks in seven tries. It was
1¾ lengths back to Castle Flight in second. New Talent finished third while
Tuxedo Bay was last in the field of six.
K Ryan Bluechip, who is owned by Carl
T Howard and Brian Witt, returned $17.60 as the fifth choice in the wagering.
The 7-year-old gelded son of Art Major-Fool That I Am now has 32 wins in 104
lifetime starts, good for earnings of $410,484.
A LITTLE MORE: Andy Miller drove three winners on
the card while Corey Callahan and Dexter Dunn had two each. … Two bettors
cashed in for $6,103 after lasting seven legs in the 20-Cent Survivor Pick-10.
… Mindtrip destroyed his foes as the 3-5 choice in the eighth race non-winners
of $16,000 pace in a lifetime-best 1:50.1 for trainer Patti Harmon and driver
Mitch Cushing. … When racing resumes Friday at 7:15 p.m., a carryover of
$50,930 awaits those playing the Early 20-Cent Jackpot Super High-Five (Race
5).
