Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Two names
that have been near the top of the driver standings at the Meadowlands since
the start of the current meeting in mid-October belong to a pair of drivers
from “Down Under”, New Zealand-native Dexter Dunn and Australian Andy McCarthy.
Horsemen from that region of the
globe have had an impact over the years at the Big M. Ross Croghan, Noel Daley,
Mark Harder, Nifty Norman, Brett Pelling and Chris Ryder. Be they “Kiwis” or
“Aussies”, these trainers have done their share of winning at the mile oval.
Ryder uses Dunn, 29, on many of his
horses, and among them is the talented 3-year-old colt Bettor’s Wish, who is
currently seventh in the weekly “Road to the Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace”
poll put out every week by the Big M’s media relations department.
“He’s a family friend from New
Zealand,” said Ryder of Dunn. “But he’s not driving just because I know the
guy. He’s driving because he’s capable. I thought he might have trouble hooking
on here when he arrived (about a year ago), but his talent and personality have
overcome that.”
The stats back up what Ryder says, as
Dunn has won 86 times from 587 starts at the Meadowlands since the meet began.
And thus far in 2019, Dunn sits second in the Big M standings with 65 wins, a
total surpassed only by Yannick Gingras’ 96.
As for McCarthy, he was the leading
driver at the Meadowlands until he went on an extended vacation earlier this
year to his homeland. For the meeting, he’s won 50 races from 355 starts.
“Is Andy my primary driver?” asked
Brett Pelling. “I would say that. He’s driving my best horse, Caviart Ally, and
when you have a good horse, it puts you in the limelight.”
McCarthy guided Caviart Ally to a
hard-fought victory in 1:50 over a star-laden Preferred for pacing fillies and
mares field Saturday (May 11) night, an evening that saw the 33-year-old win
the first three races on the card and four of the first five. He also drives
Pelling’s Reigning Deo, currently ninth in the RTTCFMP.
“I want someone who is focused,” said
Pelling. “And Andy and Dexter know enough to be focused. Dexter is a great
talent, and if Andy wasn’t available, would I use Dexter? All day long.”
Pelling also spoke about the sense of
community felt by those who hail from Australia or New Zealand: “We are here
together. The Down Under people know Down Under people. And that means
something.”
BROWER HITS BIG: Dave Brower of the Meadowlands’
award-winning TV production had a night to remember Saturday (May 11), as he
gave his followers a hit for the ages.
After the nightly segment when Brower
gave out his Pick-4 ticket for on-track and simulcast players, favorites won
the first (Highalator) and final legs of Brower’s $32 play, but what happened
in between is what made the payoff special.
Somebaddude paid $100.00 to win in
the second leg while 10-1 chance On Duty scored in the third. After Albergo
Hanover won the final leg (Race 11), Brower’s followers collected $2,028.15,
good for a profit of $1,996.15.
The total Pick-4 pool was a typically
strong $102,125 on Saturday and as always, free program pages for this week’s
50-Cent Pick-4 – as well as the Can-Am Pick-4 (Friday only) – are available at www.playmeadowlands.com
and www.ustrotting.com.
SUPER HIGH-FIVE HIT: Despite the 6-5 favorite winning the
race, one lucky player betting into the Oregon Express hub walked away with a
huge score nonetheless Saturday (May 11) night.
The 20-Cent Jackpot Super High-Five,
with the two longest shots in the field finishing second and fifth, yielded
only one ticket with the winning combination of 2-3-1-10-9, and was good for a
return of $33,010.24.
This Friday (May 17), the carryover
for the Early 20-Cent Jackpot Super High-Five (Race 5) stands at $91,214.
PREAKNESS UP NEXT: The 144th Preakness Stakes
at Pimlico Race Course is the featured simulcast event on Saturday (May 18) at
the Meadowlands.
Post time for the first of 14 races
at Pimlico is 10:30 a.m.
The Preakness, for 3-year-olds at a
mile and three-sixteenths, is Race 13 on the card and has a post time of 6:48
p.m.
BEERFEST ON TAP: On Saturday (May 18), the Meadowlands
will host its fourth annual “Beerfest”.
The event, which is rain or shine,
has three tiers of ticket pricing. For a $75 VIP ticket, you get admission, VIP
lounge access, a special VIP food buffet, a tasting glass, exclusive VIP
tastings and one additional hour of sampling.
Only 200 VIP tickets will be sold.
A $35 General Admission ticket ($45
if purchased day of) includes admission, a tasting glass and a four-hour
sampling.
Those with VIP tickets will be
admitted at 4:30 p.m. while GA customers can go in at 5:30 p.m. The event ends
at 9:30 p.m.
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