By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media
Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Darling Mearas
S joined an extremely exclusive club after taking the overnight feature
high-class conditioned trot at the Meadowlands Friday night, as she joined J L
Cruze (2015) and Plunge Blue Chip (2018) as the only 1:49.4 performers in the
history of the Big M.
Although she had lifetime earnings of
just over $750,000, Darling Mearas S, who is Swedish owned and bred, had no
North American mark on her card except for a 1:56.1 qualifier on May 11, but
the 6-year-old daughter of Cantab Hall-Khao Manee made quick work of that in
her second lifetime North American start.
Darling Mearas S floated away from post
five in the event for non-winners of $17,500 in their last five starts, opting
to race first-over past the quarter. She followed Very Very Fast, who towed her
into contention before yielding the top to the eventual winner just after the
half, which was timed in :54.4.
Driver-trainer Ake Svanstedt had no
intention of letting 7-5 favorite Joey Bats go by as he moved into contention
first-over, and parked that foe around the far turn after a three-quarter time
of 1:22. Darling Mearas S, who went off stride in her North American debut at
Woodbine at Mohawk Park four weeks ago, had plenty left in the tank from there,
trotting her final quarter in :27.4 to become the game’s fastest trotter of
2019. It was 2½ lengths back to Buen Camino, who went an inside trip and
outlasted a tired Joey Bats for second.
Darling Mearas S, who is owned by
Snogarps Gard, now has 13 wins in 31 lifetime starts.
A LITTLE MORE: Yannick Gingras led the driver's
colony with three winners on the program, while Dexter Dunn, Andy McCarthy and
Tim Tetrick had two apiece. … After a one-week hiatus, the Can-Am Pick-4
returned and took in $47,931 in action. Hopefully, racing fans followed Big M
TV’s Gabe Prewitt and played his ticket, which came in and returned $357 for
the bet with the 20-Cent base wager. … The fifth race 20-Cent Jackpot Super
High-Five did not result in a single-ticket winner, upping the carryover to
$120,242. … All-source wagering on the 14-race card totaled $2,559,124. …
Racing resumes Saturday at a special early post time of 6:35 p.m. The Big M
will salute its faithful on “Fan Appeciation Night” with concession-stand
specials, a pair of Graduate Finals (each worth $250,000) and eliminations for
the Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace. When the card ends (sometime before 11
p.m.), the track will then light up the sky with a spectacular fireworks show.
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