By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media
Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Trainer Mark
Silva purchased Tuxedo Bay last fall and started out racing the 5-year-old
gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere-Spring Break in middle of the road conditioned
classes at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Saturday night at the Meadowlands,
Tuxedo Bay proved that Silva has a sharp eye for talent by winning the weekly
pacing feature at the Big M, the $21,000 Preferred Handicap, for a second
straight start in a lifetime-best 1:50.
New Talent grabbed the track early
and put Tuxedo Bay in the two-hole. After a quarter of :27, driver Eric Carlson
hit the gas in an attempt to put Tuxedo Bay on top but was rebuffed by the
leader and had to go back into the pocket.
But his time would come.
New Talent hit the half in :55.1
before being pressured by the first-over Odds On Lauderdale, which quickened
the tempo and forced New Talent to go a :27.3 third fraction as three-quarters
was reached in 1:22.4.
For a second straight start, New
Talent was game to the wire, but in deep stretch, he could not hold off an
explosive Tuxedo Bay, who sped up the inside once clear to record a 1½-length
win. New Talent held second with Mindtrip third.
As the 4-5 favorite, Tuxedo Bay paid
$3.60 to win and now has 13 lifetime victories in 61 starts, good for earnings
of $167,018. Since being acquired by Silva, Tuxedo Bay has won five of eight
starts and banked $49,160.
HO-HUM, FIVE FOR GINGRAS: The amazing Yannick Gingras kept
winning at a breath-taking pace, scoring five times on the program. According
to the Meadowlands’ Bob “Hollywood” Heyden, Gingras’ 23 winners (in only 49
starts) over the last four race cards are easily a Big M all-time best for such
a span. … Dexter Dunn won three times on the card while Carlson scored twice.
A LITTLE MORE: Betting in the 20-Cent Survivor
Pick-10 pool was a 2019-best $21,633, and one lucky simulcast player in Ohio
raked the pot. After surviving eight legs, he or she walked away with
$18,388.12. … The 50-Cent Pick-4 was a big hit with bettors for a second
straight Saturday, as $108,063 was poured into the pool. Last week, the number
was just over $110,000. … Overall wagering remained strong, as all-source
betting totaled $2,751,957. … Racing resumes Friday at 7:15 p.m.
