By Dave Little, Meadowlands
Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. –
Trolley continued his dominance of the top class at the Meadowlands – the
$21,000 Preferred Handicap – winning the Big M's weekly trotting feature for a
fourth straight start Friday night.
The Erv Miller student faced
a tough task. The Ron Burke-trained In Secret was seeking his fourth straight
win, and after Trolley sped away from the gate to grab the lead around the
first turn, Yannick Gingras then moved In Secret to the top.
The half-mile marker was hit
in :55.4 with In Secret (the 2-1 third choice) on the point, Trolley in the
pocket and 9-5 second choice Sutton – who was making his seasonal debut –
sitting third.
On the far turn, rather than
wait for the stretch drive, Marcus Miller popped Trolley out of the pocket just
before the three-quarter-mile marker and went after the leader, securing the
top with a quick move with three-sixteenths of a mile to go.
Through the lane, Trolley
showed his foes why he’s the “King of the Meadowlands”, easily going on to a
1-length win in 1:52.4. Rail-sitters Sutton and Two AM rallied to get second
and third, respectively, as In Secret weakened to fourth.
After winning his previous
start as the 2-5 choice, Trolley’s followers were rewarded Friday with a $4.40
win payout for the 6-5 favorite. The 6-year-old son of Donato Hanover-Lakeside
Bride, who has now won six of his last seven outings, won for the 15thtime
in 29 career starts (52 per cent), good for earnings of $334,459 for owners
Michael Anderson, Leland Mathias, Greg Gillis and Louis Willinger.
A LITTLE MORE: Four drivers recorded driving doubles on the card:
Dexter Dunn, Gingras, Pat Berry and Anthony Napolitano. … Wagering in the
50-Cent Pick-4 came close to the $100,000 mark, as a total of $98,085 in action
was taken. … All-source wagering on the 13-race card totaled $2,690,822. …
Former Big M standout Brett Miller drove his 8,000th career winner
Friday, taking the $25,000 first edition of the Howard Beissinger Memorial
Medley at 1¼ miles at Miami Valley Raceway. … Racing resumes at the Big M
Saturday at 7:15 p.m.
