By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – For faithful
fans of the standout aged pacer Highalator, Saturday night at the Meadowlands
was an extremely profitable one.
The 6-year-old son of
Somebeachsomewhere-Higher And Higher pulled off a shocker in the Big M’s
featured Preferred for pacers, scoring from off the pace at odds of 42-1.
None Bettor A, who won his last
outing before the coronavirus shutdown in 1:50.4 at the Meadowlands, was sent
to the gate as the 3-5 favorite. The veteran speedball, who qualified last week
in 1:50.4 at Gaitway Farm, was on the point through torrid fractions of :26.2,
:53.3 and 1:21.3, but did not have quite enough to finish the job, setting the
stage for a closer.
Highalator, who won six-of-nine
starts at the Meadowlands a year ago, which included a four-race sweep of the
Golden Receiver series, showed high early energy from post 10 before settling
into the six-hole past the quarter and half.
Bettor Memories was now on the go
first-over while providing a live tow for Highalator as he grinded his way into
contention at three-quarters. With a little more than an eighth-of-a-mile to
go, Ricky Still, so patient throughout the mile, tipped Highalator off his
cover and under steady urging was able grab the front before hanging on by a
neck, holding off the late two-pronged attack of second-place finisher Jesse
Duke N and Shnitzledosomethin, who grabbed the show dough.
This was quite a payoff for
Highalator lovers, as the Jenny Bier trainee returned $86.80 to win. During his
Golden Receiver sweep in 2019, he was sent off as the favorite every time, the
longest odds being 8-5.
Highalator stopped the clock in
1:48.4 and now has 33 wins from 72 lifetime starts. His career earnings now
stand at $559,074 for owners Jenny Bier, Joann Dombeck and Midsize Construction
Inc.
A LITTLE MORE: Favorites proved a tad vulnerable
during the first weekend back as eight post-time choices won over the course of
the 26 races (31%), but there was still plenty of form, as 14 races were won by
horses whose odds were 3-1 or less (54%). … All-source wagering totaled
$2,743,510. Betting at the Big M has now exceeded $2.5 million on nine straight
occasions and 14 of the last 15 cards. … Ten different drivers guided winners
on the Saturday program. Tim Tetrick had a driving triple while Dexter Dunn won
twice. … Racing resumes Friday at 7:15 p.m.
