By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media
Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Except for a
break two starts back, Rich And Miserable has raced well for some time now
without getting a win.
He ended that drought by taking the
featured Preferred Handicap for trotters at the Meadowlands Friday night to end
a six-race losing streak. His last win came on Sept. 28 at Yonkers Raceway.
All eyes were on Southwind Chrome
early. The 3-5 favorite was assigned post 10 (scratched down to post 9) and was
seeking his third straight score against the best horses at the Big M. Driver Dexter
Dunn left the gate with Southwind Chrome, but there were leavers to his inside,
which pushed him extremely wide into the first turn.
Southwind Chrome settled into an
early six-hole and waited for a live tow, which he got from Rich And Miserable
before the half after that one vacated the three-hole after the quarter.
Longshot Joey Bats (15-1) led the field past the first three calls, but Rich
And Miserable was right at his throat on the far turn as Southwind Chrome
tipped off his cover to race three-wide.
Southwind Chrome had trouble handling
the turn and lost ground for the final three-sixteenths-of-a-mile sprint to the
finish, which brought his win streak to an end. Rich And Miserable kept
chipping away at the leader’s advantage, finally moving to get a short edge on
Joey Bats at the head of the stretch. From there, the 4-year-old gelded son of
Explosive Matter-Wishful Me extended his lead while keeping a super-game Joey
Bats at bay to record a three-quarter-length win in 1:52.1. Cruising In Style, a
60-1 outsider, outkicked Southwind Chrome – who went well once straightened up
– for the show dough.
Rich And Miserable paid $8.80 to win
as the second choice in the wagering. Driven by Tyler Buter and trained by his
dad Todd, Rich And Miserable – whose last Meadowlands win came on July 20 – now
has 16 victories from 45 career starts, good for earnings of $400,422 for
owners Buter Farm, Lynette Buter, William Fuhs and Carol Fuhs.
A LITTLE MORE: Driver Yannick Gingras followed up
his five-winner Thursday with three more on Friday. … Andy Miller, Tyler Buter,
Dexter Dunn and Eric Abbatiello had two apiece. … One patron playing into the
Ontario hub was the only holder of a 20-cent Survivor Pick-10 ticket to last
six legs and collected $9,407. … All-source handle totaled $2,428,157. … Racing
resumes Saturday at 7:15 p.m.
