Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – The Meadowlands
is known as a track with a driver colony that’s got big-time talent from top to
bottom, but last weekend, two standouts stood far above the rest of the crowd.
Over the course of the two-day race
week at the Big M on Jan. 17-18, Dexter Dunn and Yannick Gingras were both at
the top of their respective games, to say the least.
Of the 28 races contested, the
prolific pair won 18 times, with each pilot hitting the winner’s circle four
times Friday and five times Saturday.
Dunn, a 30-year-old New Zealand
native, took both features with Down Under breds, winning Friday with Major
Occasion A and then Saturday with Franco Totem N. His fans were especially
thrilled with Dunn’s Friday success as the United States Harness Writers Association’s
Driver of the Year scored with longshots Bold Goddess ($43.80) and Auteur
Hanover ($54.60). In addition, DD swept the $348.20 daily double that covered
races seven and eight.
Gingras, whose $13.4 million in
earnings was good for second in North America during 2019, maintained his place
as one of the most popular drivers at the Big M by scoring a half-dozen times
over the weekend with non-favorites as both he and Dunn – not surprisingly –
showed a flat-bet profit by the time the dust cleared Saturday night.
Racing fans won’t get the chance to
play Gingras or Dunn this weekend, however, as neither is listed to drive.
Gingras will be in France attending – not participating in – the Prix
d’Amerique while Dunn has a previous commitment.
Racing fans can look forward to
another ace being in the fold, however, as Tim Tetrick, the leading
money-earning driver from 2019 with over $15.6 million, will be in the sulky at
the Big M this Friday and Saturday night. Post time is the usual 7:15 p.m.
PICK-4 REPORT: The Meadowlands’ signature wager, the
50-cent Pick-4, saw its usual big play last weekend, as a total of $81,661 was
bet Friday and $91,480 was in the pool Saturday. Friday’s final leg saw a 25-1
shot score, leading to a payoff of $3,155.05. Chalk players hit the $55.85
return Saturday as Dunn and Gingras each won twice during the sequence.
FREE PPs: When it comes to the 50-cent Pick-4,
the Late 20-cent Jackpot Super High-Five and the 20-cent Can-Am Pick-4, if you
want to play, but prefer not to pay for past performances, all you have to do
is go to playmeadowlands.com or ustrotting.com where you can access them for
free.
GIANT SCORE: One sharp handicapper made the score
a lifetime Friday. Betting into the Oregon Express hub, that player held the
only 20-cent Jackpot Super High-Five ticket with the winning combination of
1-7-3-6-4 and cashed in for $118,148.72.
The race was won by 2-1 favorite Lily
Hammer and driver Corey Callahan. Finishing second through fifth, respectively,
were Northern Swift (25-1), Moonshinecharleigh (8-1), Manhattan Play (3-1) and
Justabitofcharm (30-1).
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
·
On Jan. 24, card players
who are 21 or older can play Texas Hold’em on “Free Poker Friday”,
hosted by World Free Poker.
·
On Jan. 25, the Big M
hosts it’s annual “Chili Cook Off”, which will have its usual “Homestyle
Chili” division. This year, a “Chili Verde” contest has been added to the
festivities. In addition, there will also be a competition for the best salsa.
For complete information and registration, go to https://chilicookoff.com/cookoffs/list.
·
On Feb. 2, professional
football’s championship game – that pits the Kansas City Chiefs against the
San Francisco 49ers – kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Be sure to watch and wager in the
Big M’s FanDuel Sportsbook.
·
On Feb. 7, come to the track
and enjoy a “Brunch for Love” from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. The event benefits
non-profits from the Meadowlands Chamber.
·
On Feb. 14, bring your
sweetheart to the races and enjoy a fabulous Valentine’s Day dinner in
the Big M’s Pink Restaurant. You might be one of three couples to win a gift
certificate for a bed and breakfast in Cape May, NJ. For reservations, call
201-THE-BIGM.
