ALLARD WINS FOUR AT BIG M

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Simon Allard has taken full advantage of his opportunities at The Meadowlands over the last two months with many of the track’s regulars out of town racing on the Grand Circuit, and the Big M’s leading driver at the current Fall Meeting kept doing what he’s been doing of late by winning four times on the Friday night card.

Allard, currently fifth in the standings at Pocono Downs, upped his victory total to 24 at the New Jersey mile oval, with two of his scores coming in the fourth and final leg of the Kindergarten Classic for 2-year-olds.

The 38-year-old pilot got his night started with 9-5 second choice Hot As Hill (Muscle Hill-Smarty Pants), who came back along the rail to win the second race after yielding the front after the quarter. The Ron Burke trainee stopped the clock in 1:57 in the division for filly trotters, winning a second straight Kindergarten preliminary and marking herself as the one to beat in one of four finals (to take place on Nov. 7) which have purses totaling approximately $800,000.

Cash For Gold gave Allard his second winner in a low-end conditioned trot in the fourth race as the 5-2 second choice in 1:54.2 before his second Kindergarten score came in race eight with 9-1 outsider Three Way Split (Somebeachsomewhere-Take Into Account), a filly who won for the first time in five career starts. The Tony Alagna trainee paced the mile in 1:53.1.

Allard completed his “grand slam” by taking the 11^th race low-end conditioned filly and mare pace with 2-1 favorite Avaya Hanover in 1:53.3, a lifetime best.

HE’S STILL GOT IT: Nine-year-old gelding JL Cruze, who five years ago became the first trotter ever to break the 1:50 barrier at The Meadowlands (1:49.4), was seen in the winner’s circle for the 39^th time from 118 career starts after taking the ninth race mid-range conditioned overnight feature in 1:52.3.

The Eric Ell trainee, a son of Crazed-Topcat Hall who was driven by Corey Callahan, returned $3.40 to win as the heavy favorite.

A LITTLE MORE: Anoka Hanover upped her win streak to five in a Kindergarten filly trot in 1:56 for driver Todd McCarthy and trainer Noel Daley. Another good-looking Kindergarten winner was colt pacer Simon Says Hanover, who scored in 1:52.2. Driven by George Napolitano Jr. and trained by Alagna, he’s now won four straight. … Napolitano had a big night, visiting the winner’s circle three times. … The 20-cent Pick-6 went unhit, creating a carryover of $5,181, leading Big M management to guarantee the next pool at $15,000. … All-source wagering totaled $1,881,656. … Racing resumes Saturday at 7:15 p.m.

BRETT BECKWITH; PAUL MINORE; NAADA TROT WINNERS AT YONKERS On THURSDAY NIGHT

by john manzi, for NAADA

Yonkers, NY—Despite the inclement weather two short-field divisions roughed the wind and the rain and competed over a muddy racetrack in the North American Amateur Drivers Association's $8000 non-wagering trots which were presented on Thursday night (Oct. 29) prior to the waging card getting underway at Yonkers Raceway.

In the first split 17-year-old Brett Beckwith scored behind DW's Revenge in 2:01 while Paul Minore and If I Must notched their second victory in amateur events in less than a week, having won an American Harness Drivers Club trot at Freehold Raceway on Sat, October 24. Their victory tonight was in a 2:00.3.

In his division  Beckwith sat a pocket until the three quarters and then rallied DW's Revenge to a going away 4-1/2 length triumph over Jacks To Open (Nicole Dicostanzo) who was cutting the fractions. Tough Get Going garnered the show dough for Joe Faraldo.

The winner, a 6-year-old altered son of Archangel, is owned and trained by Melissa Beckwith

In the other split, Paul Minore charged If I Must to the lead as the wings of the mobile gate folded then grabbed leather and allowed Tony Ciufettelli to take command with Someway Sam Hall. Minore then sat chilly and followed Ciuffetelli's lead all the way to the top of the stretch and then rallied his trotter to score a head triumph. Third place went to Ladys Big Stormont and driver Alan Schwartz.

Minore owns the winner who is trained by Taylor Gower

 

Monticello Raceway Changes Post Time to 12:25

By: Shawn Wiles

Monticello NY -  On Monday November 2, Monticello Raceway will alter its Post Time for daylight savings, with the new Post time at 12:20pm.

The change in post time will also effect the Lasix schedule, Horseman can review the revised Lasix schedule on Monticello Raceway’s website www.monticelloraceway.com.

Monticello Raceway will adhere to its normal racing schedule of Live Racing Monday through Thursday.

LAST CHANCE TO MAKE THE GRADE AT BIG M

Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – In what is now “the new normal”, many students have been schooling at home, but some horses who want to qualify for next week’s Kindergarten Classic Finals at The Meadowlands will have to be in class Friday (Oct. 30) night at the mile oval and do well in the series’ fourth and final leg if they are to make it to the culminating big-money exams.

The event for 2-year-olds will have a total of six divisions on the Friday night program for horses of each sex and gait trying to earn enough points based on where they finish to qualify for one of four finals – with purses totaling $800,000 – that take place on Saturday, Nov. 7.

WHO WILL WEAR THE CROWNS? This weekend, 12 Breeders Crown Finals will settle many year-end divisional-honor scores at Indiana’s Hoosier Park.

The Crown will be offered at The Meadowlands on its simulcast network where the four finals for 2-year-olds will head to the gate Friday night while the four events for 3-year-olds and four more for older horses take place on Saturday. Post time for both 15-race cards is 6 p.m.

The list of stars who will be on display include eight horses in this week’s Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown Standardbred Top 10 Poll: Tall Dark Stranger, Party Girl Hill, Atlanta, Gimpanzee, Perfect Sting, Kissin In The Sand, Bettor’s Wish and Shartin N.

Many Breeders Crown performers will be at The Big M on Nov. 21 for Fall Final Four/TVG Finals Night.

That evening, 2-year-olds will be in the spotlight as the Governor’s Cup (colt pace), Three Diamonds (filly pace), Valley Victory (colt trot) and Goldsmith Maid (filly trot) makeup the Fall Final Four, with total purses of about $1.8 million.

Year-end divisional honors – as well as Horse of the Year – could be determined by what happens in the four TVG Finals, which are the Mares Trot, Open Trot, Mares Pace and Open Pace, a fabulous foursome which will see just over $1 million get doled out.

IT’S A SURE THING: Guaranteed pools will make their return to the Meadowlands next weekend.

Three of the track’s most popular wagers will once again offer promises of a large pot while continuing to have a low 15 percent takeout.

Effective on Friday, Nov. 6, the first race 20-cent Pick-5 will offer a guaranteed pool of $50,000. Another $90,000 in promised green will be up for grabs in the mile track’s popular 50-cent Pick-4 bets, with $50,000 the starting point on races six through nine and $40,000 in the hat on races 10 through 13.

LAST WEEK: Friday (Oct. 23) night’s GSY (Gural Settlemoir Yarock) Series race was won by the Mark Silva-trained and driven Dramatic Point, who lit up the board at odds of 46-1, creating giant payoffs in the win ($94.80), Exacta ($1,550.80), Trifecta ($19,303.20) and 10-cent Pentafecta ($16,626.60) pools.

A two-day carryover led to a total pool of over $41,000 in the 20-cent Pick-6 Saturday (Oct. 24) night and after a sequence that saw none of the horses’ odds reach 8-1, the payoff was a handsome $9,225.

The top drivers over the course of the 26-race weekend were George Napolitano Jr. (five winners) and Todd McCarthy (four).

CUP RUNNETH OVER: Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, KY is the site for the 2020 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which will begin with five events on Friday, Nov. 6 and conclude on Saturday, Nov. 7 with nine more races, the last of which is the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The first Breeders’ Cup race on Friday is scheduled for 2:30 p.m., while Saturday’s opener goes at 12:02 p.m. The Classic has a post time of 5:13 p.m.

FREE PPs: For free past performances of Meadowlands races, courtesy of the United States Trotting Association and TrackMaster, go to playmeadowlands.com, where one can access races nine through 13 for both Friday and Saturday. Those races include the 20-cent Late Pick-5, 50-cent Late Pick-4 and 10-cent Late Pentafecta, not to mention the Late Daily Double.

TWEET THE TEAM: Stay in touch on Twitter with the Big M’s Dave Brower (@eedoogie), Dave Little (@DaveLittleBigM), Ken Warkentin (@kenvoiceover), Andrew Demsky (@shadesonracing) and Jessica Otten (@JessicaOtten1). Check in everyday for Meadowlands news and updates at those handles, as well as @TheMeadowlands and #playbigm.

CHECK OUT THE PICKS: For those who need to get a leg up on the action, go to playmeadowlands.com to see track oddsmaker and analyst Brower’s selections and commentary. Click on this link to check out Friday’s card: http://playmeadowlands.com/RaceReviews.aspx?racedt=10/30/2020.

Additionally, track announcer Warkentin’s blog is available on the site and offers his picks and analysis.

On race nights, access picks and plays from the Big M TV team at #playbigm or at @TheMeadowlands.

Speaking of picks, Otten picked best bet winners on both Friday and Saturday night last week with neither horse going as the favorite. Dontpassme Hanover ($6.40) was her Friday night winner before War Dan A ($5.40) scored on Saturday.

CHECK OUT THE SHOW: As always look for the “Racing from The Meadowlands” live in-house simulcast show every Friday and Saturday night. It begins at 6:42 p.m. First race is at 7:15 p.m.

If you want to watch all the action at home, go to rtn.tv or your favorite ADW platform to catch every race live.

GET YOUR FOOTBALL ACTION: Now that the favored Los Angeles Dodgers have won the World Series in six games over the pesky Tampa Bay Rays for their first championship since 1988, it is time to go deep handicapping and wagering on college and professional football at the Big M’s FanDuel Sportsbook.

You can watch and wager on all the NFL and college action, as well as other sports, when the book is open for business from 10 a.m. – midnight Sunday through Friday and from 10 a.m. – 2 a.m. on Saturday.

Dining Options at the Meadowlands Racetrack

East Rutherford, NJ - For live racing on Friday and Saturday nights, Trotters is open with a $29.95 pre fixe menu featuring a selection of salads, entrees and a variety of desserts.  

This Friday’s menu features roasted turkey with herbs and cranberry sauce, baked cod with capers and olives, cheese ravioli and pork chop pizzaiola.  Apple pie and home-made cookies round out the meal.

Saturday’s menu features a traditional steakhouse salad with crispy iceberg lettuce, cherry tomatoes and bleu cheese.  The entrees include chicken Scarpariello and NY strip steak with rice pilaf.

Reservations are required and dining must be prepaid.  Reservations can be made by calling 201-The-BigM (201-843-2446).

Menus for the upcoming live race weekends include:

·         November 6^th  – Fall market salad with mixed greens, bleu cheese and cranberries, roasted sirloin tips, salmon vino blanco and Tuscan lemon chicken

·         November 7^th – spicy Thai calamari, honey roasted turkey breast, herb-crusted cod, sliced steak with Cabernet Sauvignon reduction

·         November 13^th – Greek Salad, Szechuan chicken and shrimp, Vermont ham and NY strip steak

·         November 14^th – traditional Caesar salad, Sole Oreganata, grilled chicken with shiitake mushrooms, BBQ flank steak and mac & cheese

 T   The complete menus can be viewed at https://www.playmeadowlands.events/trottershttps://www.playmeadowlands.events/trotters

 Victory Lounge and the outdoor Pavilion are also open for food and beverage service Thursday-Monday for both live racing and sports.  Diners can enjoy a variety of appetizers including wings, loaded fries and guacamole with chips.  BBQ favorites including brisket, ribs, pulled pork and burgers are also available.

Reservations must be made by emailing Victoryreservations@arkrestaurants.com or calling 201-842-5102.

Jimmy Taggart Jr Wins Four at Monticello Raceway

 By Shawn Wiles

October 26, 2020,  Monticello NY – On a cold muddy day at the famed Catskill Mountain oval Jim Taggart had a hot hand and drove 4 winners on the afternoon card.  Gary Messenger enjoyed a training triple, Michael Merton and Mcgwire Sowers each both enjoyed a driving double on the afternoon.

Taggart’s 4 bagger started in the second race with Holiday Hanover (PP6) a 3 length winner in 2:00 and returned a paltry $2.20 to win, next up was Roll With Joy (PP1) a 2 length winner in 1:59 - $4.90.  Topville Olivia scored a wire to wire win in 1:58.2 for trainer Monica Eriksen.  The final win of the day came in race 8 with Askmelater Hanover a five length winner in 2:00.3 - $2.40.

HIGHALATOR REBOUNDS AT BIG M

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Heee’s baaack!

After an incredibly uncharacteristic sixth-place finish a week ago in a race that saw him back up on the far turn while going after the leader, Highalator, the best overnight horse currently in training at The Meadowlands, returned to his outstanding self with another eye-popping performance in the track’s weekly pacing feature Saturday night.

Having been assigned post position nine in the nine-horse field for non-winners of $20,000 in their last five starts on the pace, driver Ricky Still did what he usually does with Highalator, leave the gate hard. Stacked up five-wide into the first turn, the 6-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere-Higher And Higher kept on digging on the outside as early leader U S Captain yielded to Ana Afreet N, who then yielded to Highalator, who grabbed the top while parked at the half in a sizzling :53.

Despite having won three in a row before last week’s loss, Highalator was sent to the gate as the 3-1 second choice. He was sailing along on the point as 7-5 favorite Ana Afreet N, who was looking for his third straight score, remained in the pocket as three-quarters was hit in 1:21.

Ana Afreet N vacated the pocket inside the eighth pole, and while he relentlessly inched closer, he could not pass Highalator, who held on by a pulse-pounding nose in 1:49.3. Angers Bayama finished third.

Highalator, who returned $8.80 to win, has now won 39-of-84 career starts (seven-for-15 in 2020), good for earnings of $625,864 for owners Jenny Bier (who is also his trainer), Joann Dombeck and Midsize Construction.

A LITTLE MORE: A two-day carryover in the 20-cent Pick-6 led to a total pool of $41,095, and those with winning tickets had big smiles on their faces. After a sequence that saw winners’ odds of 5-1, 4-5, 7-1, 3-1, 2-1 and 6-1, the payout was a handsome $9,255. … Jason Lynch recorded his first-ever win at The Big M guiding Edge Of Eternity to a wire-to-wire score in the third race in 1:51.4. He also trains the 4-year-old, whose recent stops include Harrington Raceway, Ocean Downs and Harrah’s Philadelphia. … Todd McCarthy continued to do good things, as the recent Australian import drove three winners on the card. … All-source wagering totaled $2,077,815. … Racing resumes Friday at 7:15 p.m.

PAUL MINORE WINS AMERICAN HARNESS DRIVERS CLUB TROT AT FREEHOLD

by John Manzi for the AHDC

Freehold, NJ—Another $9000 amateur trot in the American Harness Drivers Club is now in the books after “Coach Paul” Minore gunned If I Must to the lead from the five-hole and then proceeded to make every pole a winning one en route to 2-1/4 length victory in 2:00.4 over seven others at Freehold Raceway on Saturday afternoon (Oct 24).

Mugshot Jess, driven by Pearly Allen, got all the early betting money and was sent away as the 1-2 favorite but road trouble from the six-hole never allowed him to contend until it was too late.

After he grabbed the lead in a soft :30.2 first quarter Minore tapped the breaks and led Fji (Dave Offenberg) by the first stanza and they were one-two by the half in 1:01:2 while Mugshot Jess was stalled by breaking horses on the first turn.

A lazy Tough Get Going (Joe Faraldo) who was in third place behind the leaders early, had trouble chasing the top two and in doing so it kept the trailers from a clear shot at the leaders.

It was still If I Must and Fiji showing the way as the field rounded the final turn and in the lane the former opened daylight on the latter and coasted to an easy victory. Mugshot Jess finally shook free but too late to do any damage to the leaders and had to settle for third money.

If I Must, a 5-year-old altered son of Muscles Yankee, is owned by his driver and trained by Taylor Gower. He was sent off as third choice in the contest and returned a $14.70 win mutuel.

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RED-HOT CULLIPHER SWEEPS BIG M’S FALL HARVEST

 

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – The Jeff Cullipher barn has been on fire of late at The Meadowlands, and the track’s leading trainer kept on rolling Friday night, taking both Fall Harvest Series Finals on the card.

Skyway Kon Man may not have gone the best of trips, but he was up to the task, taking the final for trotters who were non-winners of $4,500 in their last five starts. Last week, the 4-year-old gelded son of Conway Hall-Keystone Sadie exploded off cover to win going away in 1:55.3 as the even-money choice, which led players to send him off as the 3-5 favorite.

After leaving the gate from post six in the 10-horse field, driver Simon Allard settled Skyway Kon Man into the four-hole. Allard vacated the rail just after the half, but was unable to flush cover, leaving him first-over for the final seven-sixteenths.

‘Kon Man’ kept chipping away at pesky leader Levitation’s edge, and with about a sixteenth-of-a-mile to go, grabbed the lead before holding off the fast-closing Godspell Hall by a head in 1:54.1. Levitation finished third.

Skyway Kon Man returned $3.40 to win, and now has seven victories from 36 lifetime starts and earnings of just over $130,000.

But Cullipher, who won three races on Oct. 10 before winning two more on both Oct. 16 and 17, would record his fourth consecutive training double before the night was out.

Chiplosive, a 4-year-old gelded son of Explosive Matter-Brooke Blue Chip, destroyed eight overmatched foes in the Fall Harvest Final for trotters who were non-winners of $2,500 by 3 lengths in 1:52.4, a time that lowered his previous lifetime best by a full second.

Driver George Napolitano Jr. guided Chiplosive to his second straight Big M score with some aggressive handling, making the lead from post nine by traveling parked past the quarter before securing the top at the half in :56.2.

From there it was easy gravy as Chiplosive opened up on the field by 5 lengths at the head of the stretch before cruising to a 3-length score over Piercewave Hanover. Broadway Bruiser was third.

As the 2-5 favorite, Chiplosive paid $2.80 to win, and now has eight career wins from 35 attempts, good for a bankroll of just over $118,000.

A LITTLE MORE: After a second straight 20-cent Pick-6 went unhit, a carryover of over $13,000 led Big M management to guarantee a $25,000 pot for Saturday night. Free past performances are available at playmeadowlands.com. … When the Mark Silva-trained and driven Dramatic Point scored in the fifth race (helping to insure the big Pick-6 pool for Saturday) at odds of 46-1, huge 10-cent Pentafecta ($12,626) and $2 Trifecta ($19,303) payoffs were the result. The top five numbers in the official order of finish were 7-9-8-10-6. … Napolitano and Corey Callahan topped the driver colony with three wins apiece. … Seven favorites scored on the 13-race program, making it 23 chalks out of the last 39 Big M races (59 percent). … All-source handle totaled $1,896,248. … Racing resumes Saturday at 7:15 p.m.

$25,000 PICK-6 GUARANTEE AT BIG M SATURDAY

 

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Meadowlands players interested in a possible windfall will be waiting impatiently for Saturday (Oct. 24) night’s third race, as a two-day carryover in the 20-cent Pick-6 has led Big M management to put a sizeable guarantee on the pool.

On Friday night, a 24-1 shot kicked off the wager, and two races later, a 46-1 bomb fell on the mile oval. After 3-5 favorite Skyway Kon Man won the payoff leg, those holding tickets with five winners cashed in for $51.58, leaving a carryover of just over $13,000, which will at worst double for Saturday night’s third race, since the pool will be guaranteed at $25,000.

The 20-cent Pick-6 is one of seven wagers at The Big M that offer a low 15 percent takeout.

Dining Re-Opens at the Meadowlands Racetrack

 

 

Meadowlands Racetrack

East Rutherford, NJ - Dining re-opens today, Thursday, October 22^nd, at the Meadowlands Racetrack.

The Café will be open daily serving racetrack favorites including burgers, doughnuts, bagels, chicken fingers and fries, hot dogs and more.  Beer, wine and liquor are also available for those 21 and older.

For live racing on Friday and Saturday nights, Trotters has a $29.95 pre fixe menu featuring a variety of cold salads, multiple entrees and a selection of pre-packaged desserts.  

This Friday’s menu features a butternut squash salad, teriyaki-glazed steak tips, seared chicken in a lemon, butter and caper sauce and fried Alaskan cod.  Home-made cookies and fresh fruit are available for dessert.  

Saturday’s menu features a traditional Caesar salad, Norwegian salmon with sherry and capers, chicken Milanese and pork tenderloin in an apple cider sauce.

Reservations are required and dining must be prepaid.  Reservations can be made by calling 201-The-BigM (201-843-2446)

Victory Lounge and  the outdoor Pavilion are also open for food and beverage service Thursday-Monday for both live racing and sports.  Diners can enjoy a variety of appetizers, brisket, ribs, pulled pork and burgers along with a full bar for those 21 and older.  

Reservations must be made by emailing Victoryreservations@arkrestaurants.com or calling 201-842-5102.

From 12-6pm this Sunday, October 25^th, anyone making a reservation in the Lounge or Pavilion will receive ten free wings.  Offer is limited to one offer per party.

Guests are encouraged to make dining reservations for guaranteed seating.

The Meadowlands Racetrack is adhering to all local and state COVID-19 protocols and all guests must follow these guidelines below:

·         Maintain 6 ft social distancing when possible

·         Wearing masks properly over both the nose and mouth at all times

·         Using hand sanitizer and frequently washing hands

·         No outside food or beverage inside the grandstand.  

All are required to wear a face covering both indoors and outside, have their temperature checked and complete a brief health questionnaire.  No one with a temperature exceeding 100.4 will be allowed to enter.

All racing and dining information can be found at PlayMeadowlands.com and the health questionnaire can be downloaded and filled out prior to arrival here.

KINDERGARTEN, HIGHALATOR TOP BIG M ACTION

Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – The Kindergarten Classic for 2-year-olds and a veteran standout looking to get back on track are the top storylines this weekend at The Meadowlands.

On Friday (Oct. 23), eight divisions of the Kindergarten’s third leg for 2-year-olds will hit the track. There will be two divisions each for horses of both sexes and gaits.

Next week, the Kindergarten will have its fourth and final leg (Oct. 30) before the series concludes on Nov. 7 with four finals that have purses totaling $800,000.

After a rare poor performance last week, Highalator, who saw his three-race Big M win streak come to an end at the hands of Harambe Deo, seeks to find his way back to the winner’s circle in the Saturday (Oct. 24) night feature, a high-end conditioned pace.

LAST WEEK: Dexter Dunn, who finished one winner behind Yannick Gingras during the Championship Meeting that concluded in August, had the hot hands last Friday night, winning five times on the evening to be the leading driver for the weekend (Oct. 16-17). Gingras had four winners, all on Saturday night.

Jeff Cullipher, after winning three times on Oct. 10, followed that up with training doubles on both last Friday and Saturday. His four winners led all trainers.

Despite 16 winning favorites from 26 races, many Big M players still made some big scores last weekend.

Among the wagers with notable payouts were the 10-cent Pentafecta ($1,113 on Friday, $2,072 on Saturday), 20-cent Pick-5 ($5,431 and $7,747), 50-cent Pick-4 ($5,910 and $1,129) and Trifecta ($2,510, $1,649 and $4,595 on Friday; $2,664 and $2,290 on Saturday).

IT ALL COMES DOWN: The Breeders Crown will be offered at The Meadowlands on its simulcast network when the year-end event sees eliminations take place this Friday and Saturday. Post time is 6:30 p.m.

Hoosier Park in Anderson, IN will play host to the 2020 edition of the Crown, harness racing’s year-end 12-race extravaganza for horses of all sexes, ages and gaits. Nine of the events will require eliminations this weekend. Three races – the Open Pace, Open Trot and Mare Trot – will not require elims and go directly to finals next week.

More than $6 million will be on the table, as Friday, Oct. 30 will see the four Crown finals for 2-year-olds, before a Saturday, Oct. 31 eight-pack that will include four championships for 3-year-olds and four more for open types. Post time each night is 6 p.m.

For complete Breeders Crown information, go to http://ustrottingnews.com/6-million-breeders-crown-draws-161-for-harrahs-hoosier-park-championships/.

Many Breeders Crown performers will no doubt be at The Meadowlands on Nov. 21 for Fall Final Four/TVG Finals Night.

That evening, 2-year-olds will be in the spotlight as the Governor’s Cup (colt pace), Three Diamonds (filly pace), Valley Victory (colt trot) and Goldsmith Maid (filly trot) makeup the Fall Final Four, with total purses of about $1.8 million.

Year-end divisional honors – as well as Horse of the Year – could be determined by what happens in the four TVG Finals, which are the Mares Trot, Open Trot, Mares Pace and Open Pace, a fabulous foursome which will see just over $1 million get doled out.

DON’T FORGET THE RUNNERS: Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, KY is the site for the 2020 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which will begin with five events on Friday, Nov. 6 and conclude on Saturday, Nov. 7 with nine more races, the last of which is the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The first Breeders’ Cup race on Friday is scheduled for 2:30 p.m., while Saturday’s opener goes at 12:02 p.m. The Classic has a post time of 5:13 p.m.

FREE PPs: For free past performances of Meadowlands races, go to playmeadowlands.com, where one can access races nine through 13 for both Friday and Saturday’s programs. Those races include the 20-cent Late Pick-5, 50-cent Late Pick-4 and 10-cent Late Pentafecta, not to mention the Late Daily Double.

THE FUTURE’S SO BRIGHT: The newest member of the Meadowlands’ TV team is off to a good start. Last weekend saw Andrew “Shades” Demsky give out both of his best bets on top and added one Pick-4 on Saturday night for good measure.

This week, Demsky will be giving commentary on TVG Friday night and serve as co-host alongside Dave Brower on the in-house live simulcast presentation on Saturday.

TWEET THE TEAM: Stay in touch on Twitter with the Big M’s Brower (@eedoogie), Dave Little (@DaveLittleBigM), Ken Warkentin (@kenvoiceover), Demsky (@shadesonracing) and Jessica Otten (@JessicaOtten1). Check in everyday for Meadowlands news and updates at those handles, as well as @TheMeadowlands and #playbigm.

CHECK OUT THE PICKS: For those who need to get a leg up on the action, go to playmeadowlands.com to see track oddsmaker and analyst Brower’s selections and commentary. Click on this link to check out Friday’s card: http://playmeadowlands.com/RaceReviews.aspx?racedt=10/23/2020.

Additionally, track announcer Warkentin’s blog is available on the site and offers his picks and analysis.

On race nights, access picks and plays from the Big M TV team at #playbigm or at @TheMeadowlands.

CHECK OUT THE SHOW: As always look for the “Racing from The Meadowlands” live in-house simulcast show every Friday and Saturday night. It begins at 6:42 p.m. First race is at 7:15 p.m.

If you want to watch all the action at home, go to rtn.tv to catch every race live.

GET WORLD SERI-OUS: Get into the World Series at The Big M, by watching and wagering on every game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays in the FanDuel Sportsbook.

The Dodgers remain a solid favorite to win their first championship since 1988, as with the series tied at a game apiece heading into Friday night’s Game 3, Los Angeles is -200 to win the series while Tampa Bay is +165.

In addition to baseball’s “Fall Classic”, you can watch and wager on all the NFL and college football action, as well as other sports. The book is open for business from 10 a.m. – midnight Sunday through Friday and from 10 a.m. – 2 a.m. on Saturday.

HARAMBE DEO DOES IT AGAIN AT BIG M

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – It mattered little to Harambe Deo that he was facing the hottest horse at the track as well as one of the best mares of this or any generation Saturday night at The Meadowlands, as he took down Highalator and Shartin N in the Preferred Handicap for pacers.

The race panned out similarly to last week, when Harambe Deo put up fast quarters at both ends of the mile in a spectacular score. The Jeff Cullipher trainee sprinted away from the gate and went to the quarter in a blistering :25.4 for a second consecutive week.

A horse known as a stone closer before the last two weeks has now become a front-end lover. “Before Simon [Allard] started driving my horse, leaving wasn’t the way to go,” said Cullipher.

When the trainer saw the quarter time last week, he thought his horse was finished. Not so Saturday night. “I didn’t think he was cooked,” said Cullipher, “but you don’t want to see that too often.”

The field of six was in straight alignment past the half (:54.2). Shortly thereafter, 2-1 second choice Highalator, seeking a fourth straight score in a Big M feature, vacated the four-hole to come after the leader, and as he advanced, 3-5 favorite Shartin N received a live tow.

But on the far turn, the look of the race changed dramatically as Highalator uncharacteristically struggled, backing up in Shartin N’s face, leaving Harambe Deo on a 3-length lead at three-quarters (1:22.3).

“I knew the race was over then,” said Cullipher. “Highalator bothered Shartin N a little on the turn. Obviously, she’s not 100 percent herself and we took advantage of everything we could.”

Harambe Deo finished the job by pacing home in :26 to stop the clock in 1:48.3, lowering the lifetime best he had established one week ago by one-fifth of a second. Western Joe was fourth lengths back in second with Geez Joe third. Shartin N finished fourth with Wes Delight fifth and Highalator sixth.

“He’s easy on himself,” said Cullipher of his prized pupil. “He doesn’t do anything out of the ordinary. He had a good week. We knew he had to have a performance like last week if he was going to beat this field, and that’s just what he gave us.”

A 5-year-old gelded son of Woodstock-Tea Time who is owned by Pollack Racing and Cullipher, Harambe Deo now has 16 wins from 81 lifetime outings, good for earnings of $253,869. As the 6-1 third choice in the wagering, he returned $15.00 to win.

A LITTLE MORE: Cullipher, who had three winners on last Saturday’s card, saw his Ana Afreet N score one race after Harambe Deo’s win to complete a training double. Ana Afreet N hit the wire in 1:49 after winning last week in 1:48.3. … Izzy Estrada also trained a pair of winner’s circle visitors. … Yannick Gingras led the driver colony with four scores on the program. … All-source wagering totaled $2,256,292. … Favorites ruled over the course of the 26-race weekend, winning 16 times. … Racing resumes Friday at 7:15 p.m.

ZUCCARELLO; FARALDO, COMBINE FOR A $1017.40 EXACTA AT FREEHOLD RACEWAY IN AN AMATEUR TROT

 by John Manzi for the American Harness Drivers Club

 Freehold, NJ—It was bombs away in the American Harness Drivers Club trot at Freehold Raceway on Saturday afternoon (Oct 17) when “Mighty Matt” Zuccarello hustled 47-1 Latoka up the inside to collar “Smokin' Joe” Faraldo and 30-1 Tough Get Going and together the trotters produced a whopping $1017.40 exacta, one of the biggest in recent memories in amateur racing.

And the third place finish by Wygant Prince ,with “Coach Paul” Minore at the controls, produced a near record $3813.80 trifecta.

When the gate sprung Minore sent his veteran trotter to the lead as Faraldo ducked in the two-hole, a place where he stayed until the stretch drive.

In the meantime Minore played hardball with Marianna Monaco who had her Awol Hanover challenging for the lead from the six-hole in the :29.2 first quarter. But with Minore's insistence Awol Hanover never was able to drop down along the pylons as the trotters race one-two all the way to the final turn.

With Wygant Prince showing the way and Tough Get Going following Faraldo was content with the way the race was breaking for him.

“I moved Tough Get Going to the outside and when we rounded the final we had the lead and I thought we were going to win it,” Faraldo said.”I was eyeing Wygant Prince and I knew we had him beat. “

Faraldo was right but his trotter drifted in the deep stretch which permitted Zuccarello and Latoka, who was fifth at the head of the lane, with a clear path to the finish line now that they were down along the pylons. With daylight the veteran 9-year-old Groton Hall gelding kicked it in another gear and collared the leader and went on to a head victory over Tough Get Going in 2:01.1.

For Zuccarello, who doubles as the publicist for the GSY Amateur Series, it was his first seasonal driving victory and the 17^th of his career.

The winner is owned and trained by Donald Maiorano

GREG KEIDEL WINS GLADA TROT WITH MILFORD'S Z TAM AT DAYTON RACEWAY

        by john manzi for GLADA

Dayton, Ohio—Members of the Great Lakes Amateur Drivers Association were on the move again this weekend with a trot at Dayton Raceway on Saturday evening and when the judges hung the official sign upon the completion of the $7200 event Gregg “Fast Greggy” Keidel rallied Milford's Z Tam to a 1:56.4 triumph over seven competitors

When the starter let the field go Daniel Jones gunned Don't Forget Muscle for the lead from the two-hole and they gained command before the first quarter timer flashed :28.1. Once on the lead Jones kept the pedal to the metal and zipped unchallenged by the halfway point although Alesha Binkley was tight on his back with Hititoutofthepark.

Daryl Bontrager was the first to move with Conway Kellyanne and they charged alongside Jones and Don't Forget Muscle as the field trotted by the third stanza. At that point the field tightened but Jones' trotter was still in front and when they headed for paydirt Don't Forget Muscles stride began to shorten after trotting :28.3 third quarter.

Although Keidel's attention was on the horses in front of him –he was fifth at the time-when Milford Z Tam rounded the final turn and headed for home he was full of trot and charged home in :28.3 for a solid one-length triumph over Hititoutofthepark in 1:56.4. Don't Forget Muscle garnered the show dough.

The winner is owned by William Hartt and trained by Michael Hitchcock. He paid $6.20 for win.

WHEN DOVESCRY SCORES IN BIG M FEATURE

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Returning to the scene of her two biggest career wins, When Dovescry destroyed her foes in the Friday night feature at The Meadowlands, a high-end conditioned trot.

The 4-year-old daughter of Muscle Hill-Cedar Dove, who won the 2019 Hambletonian Oaks and 2020 Steele Memorial at The Big M, was on the go early, securing the top out of the first turn in a field reduced to six starters after a pair of scratches, and hit the quarter on the point in a leisurely :28.

There wasn’t much action as the half went in :56.2. Longshot Arabella’s Cadet tried to apply pressure around the far turn but was turned away as they turned for home. A final quarter of just :28 was more than enough for the Brett Pelling trainee to score by 3¼ lengths over Mississippi Storm in 1:52.1. Felicityshagwell S, the 7-5 second choice, finished third.

“We wanted to get a race in her,” said Pelling, “since she is going to the [Oct. 31] Breeders Crown Mares Trot [at Hoosier Park]. She was perfectly straight tonight.”

Pelling sees a fabulous future for his horse. “Her whole game is getting through being 4-years-old. When she comes back next year, she’ll go 20 times (she’s started only six times in 2020). At 4, you race aged horses, and I think at that age, they are not mature. You are going against horses that are fully developed. It takes a special horse to take on horses that are fully developed when you are just 4.”

When Dovescry, who was driven by David Miller, paid $3.80 to win as the 4-5 public choice. She is owned by Yves Sarrazin, Dumain Haven Farm, Singh & Soulsby and John E Lengacher and now has 12 wins from 26 career starts and earnings of $1,065,186.

ONE FOR THE THUMB: Captain Corey remained unbeaten in five lifetime starts by taking the $61,500 W.N. Reynolds Memorial Judge Moore division for 2-year-old colts and geldings on the trot as the 1-9 favorite.

The Ake Svanstedt trained and driven colt, a product of Googoo Gaagaa-Luv U All, never had an anxious moment, drubbing three overmatched foes by leading at every call before hitting the wire 3¾ lengths in front of second-place finisher Royson’s Punch in 1:54.1. Lindysmusclemania was third.

Captain Corey, the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion, now has earnings of $295,313 and is being pointed to the October 30 Breeders Crown at Hoosier Park.

In a non-betting event before the regular card, Insta Glam (Father Patrick-Hollywood Hill) won the Reynolds Meda division for juvenile trotting fillies. The Nancy Takter-trained, Dexter Dunn-driven miss raised her lifetime record to five wins from 10 starts, good for earnings of $240,170.

A LITTLE MORE: Favorite players wore out a path to the windows on the night, as nine straight post-time choices scored starting in the second race. A total of 10 chalks scored on the 13-race card. … Dunn was red hot on the night, guiding five winners. … All-source handle totaled $1,853,232. … Racing resumes Saturday at 7:15 p.m.

LINDA MYERS CELEBRATES 25 TEARS AT HISTORIC TRACK

by john manzi for Goshen Historic Track

“It certainly was a surprise, and a really nice one,”Linda Myers said after being honored a few days ago at Goshen Historic Track for 25 years of dedicated service to the Board of Directors. “In retrospect it all went so fast..too fast, but I loved every minute of it” she added.

Myers began her tenure at the National Historic Landmark in 1995 when Dick Wallace was the Chairman of the Board of Directors. “Dick was a wonderful man and a pleasure to work for. And so was Vince Brescia another longtime chairman of the Board. Actually, all the Board presidents and Board members were, and are, dedicated and work tirelessly for the preservation of Historic Track,” Myers added.

Since her tenure at GHT there have been four chairmen and three presidents of the Board and Mrs Myers has also worked with five track managers. “And since I've been here I've seen four Presidents of the US in office,” Myers said with a smile.

Over the years she has had six different office assistants--”and I loved them all,” she added.

A longtime devoted employee at the National Historic Landmark and Cradle of the Trotter her dedication was honored in 2012 when the Monticello-Goshen Chapter of U.S. Harness Writers Association honored her as the recipient of their prestigious Amy Bull Crist Award.

“Thank you so much for helping to make my 25th anniversary here at the track so memorable. The floral arrangement is beautiful and the cake was delicious. I appreciate your thoughtfulness,” Mrs Myers said the afternoon of the presentation to her by attending Board members.

Linda and her hubby, Gene, live in nearby Circleville, NY.

FALL DATES WORTH CIRCLING ON BIG M CALENDAR

Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Just because Hambletonian Day is in the rearview mirror doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of stakes action to come during the current Fall Meeting at The Meadowlands.

When live racing resumes Friday (Oct. 16) at 7:15 p.m., the marquee event will be the $61,500 W.N. Reynolds Memorial for 2-year-old colts and geldings on the trot, featuring the Ake Svanstedt trained and driven Captain Corey, who is unbeaten in four lifetime outings.

The Kindergarten Classic – also for juveniles – is up next with its final two legs on Oct. 23 (Leg Three) and Oct. 30 (Leg Four) before the series climaxes with four big-money finals worth approximately $800,000 on Nov. 7.

Two weeks after that comes the third-biggest program – after the Hambo and Meadowlands Pace Night – on The Big M’s yearly calendar, as eight big-time stakes events take place on Fall Final Four/TVG Finals Night on Nov. 21.

Two-year-olds will be in the spotlight as the Governor’s Cup (colt pace), Three Diamonds (filly pace), Valley Victory (colt trot) and Goldsmith Maid (filly trot) make up the Fall Final Four, with total purses of about $1.8 million.

Year-end divisional honors – as well as Horse of the Year – could be determined by what happens in the four TVG Finals, which are the Mares Trot, Open Trot, Mares Pace and Open Pace, a fabulous four-pack which will see just over $1 million get doled out.

A year ago, Six Pack locked up older male trotter honors by gunning down Manchego – at the time, the best horse in training – in 1:50 in the Open Trot. Despite being beaten in a stretch-battle thriller by Caviart Ally, Shartin N – who finished a nose behind in 1:48.3 – went on to be selected as HOTY.

SIMULCAST HEAVEN: Two sets of year-end championships will be offered at The Meadowlands on its simulcast network, one for the star performers of harness racing and the other for the best in the thoroughbred game.

Hoosier Park in Anderson, IN will play host to the 2020 edition of the Breeders Crown, harness racing’s year-end 12-race extravaganza for horses of all gaits, sexes and age.

More than $6 million will be on the table over the course of two race cards, as Friday, October 30 will see the four events for 2-year-olds, before a Saturday, October 31 eight-pack that will include four races for 3-year-olds and four more for open types. Post time each night is 6 p.m.

Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, KY is the site for the 2020 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which will begin with five events on Friday, Nov. 6 and conclude on Saturday, Nov. 7 with nine more races, the last of which is the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The first Breeders’ Cup race on Friday is scheduled for 2:30 p.m., while Saturday’s opener goes at 12:02 p.m. The Classic has a post time of 5:13 p.m.

LAST WEEKEND: Threes were wild over the course of last weekend (Oct. 9-10) at The Big M. Three drivers, Corey Callahan, Victor Kirby and George Napolitano Jr., and two trainers, Bruce Saunders and Jeff Cullipher, all won three times over the course of the two programs.

Last Saturday’s “bookend” 20-cent Pick-5s provided pleasing payoffs for players. The wager that spanned races one through five paid $887. With the exception of race four, where a 14-1 shot brought a challenge for the bettors, the other four winning horses’ odds were just 6-5, 5-1, 4-1 and 4-5.

The Late Pick-5 returned $13,654, yet, except for one race, the winning prices were not outrageous. The winners’ odds for the sequence were 8-1, 9-2, 8-5, 21-1 and 8-5.

FREE PPs: For free past performances of Meadowlands races, go to playmeadowlands.com, where one can access races nine through 13 for both Friday and Saturday’s program. Those races include the 20-cent Late Pick-5, 50-cent Late Pick-4 and 10-cent Late Pentafecta, not to mention the Late Daily Double.

TWEET THE TEAM: Stay in touch on Twitter with the Big M’s Dave Brower (@eedoogie), Dave Little (@DaveLittleBigM), Ken Warkentin (@kenvoiceover) and Jessica Otten (@JessicaOtten1). Check in everyday for Meadowlands news and updates at those handles, as well as @TheMeadowlands and #playbigm.

CHECK OUT THE PICKS: For those who need to get a leg up on the action, go to playmeadowlands.com to see track oddsmaker and analyst Brower’s selections and commentary. Click on this link to check out Friday’s card: http://playmeadowlands.com/RaceReviews.aspx?racedt=10/16/2020

Additionally, track announcer Warkentin’s blog is available on the site and offers his picks and analysis.

On race nights, access picks and plays from the Big M TV team at #playbigm or at @TheMeadowlands.

CHECK OUT THE SHOW: As always look for the “Racing from The Meadowlands” live in-house simulcast show every Friday and Saturday night. It begins at 6:42 p.m. First race is at 7:15 p.m.

If you want to watch all the action at home, go to rtn.tv to catch every race live.

GET YOUR SPORTS ACTION: When at The Big M, be sure and visit the FanDuel Sportsbook, where you can watch and wager on all the NFL, NLCS, ALCS and college football action. The book is open for business from 10 a.m. – midnight Sunday through Friday and from 10 a.m. – 2 a.m. on Saturday.

ARCI: FINANCIAL IMPACT AND IMPLEMENTATION DETAILS SHOULD BE KNOWN BEFORE FINAL PASSAGE OF FEDERAL LEGISLATION

 

            Expressing concerns about undefined cost mandates and implementation issues associated with S.4547, the proposed Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act of 2020, the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) believes Legislators should require more information about how the legislation will impact individual States before moving forward with the proposal.

 

            “The RCI Board believes there are some very good things in this bill,” said Ed Martin, President of the ARCI.  “But there is a huge financial unknown concerning the cost, especially how it will impact smaller and mid-sized racing entities and exactly how this is to be implemented.”

 

            Martin said the ARCI is committed to a smooth transition once the proposal is enacted into law, noting that the legislation addresses issues long advocated by the association, specifically uniform rules and testing.   “This legislation accomplishes that and also solves the funding issue that has been an annual headache for every racing commission,” he said.

 

            The ARCI Board met this week and discussed the proposal at length.   “There are many questions about how this will work and a general concern about how smaller and midsized racing venues will survive if required to pay additional regulatory expenses,” he said.  A staff analysis of the legislation noted at least 35 racing venues in 19 US States that should be monitored to assess the extent to which they will be able to withstand additional financial mandates imposed by the legislation.   

 

            The RCI Board felt that there were too many unanswered questions to embrace the legislation at this time although directors from Kentucky spoke in favor, West Virginia against, and some other jurisdictions withheld comment pending direction from their full Commission.  

 

            Other than shifting medication rule making authority and in some jurisdictions the responsibility for operating and paying for the enforcement program, the State Racing Commissions are perhaps the entities least impacted by this legislation.  

 

            There is a concern that in an attempt to strengthen racing, this bill may reduce racing opportunities in some communities with a ripple effect on local economies, particularly in the agricultural sector.

 

            “The RCI Board believes the sponsors and proponents of this bill should allay those fears by providing details about the anticipated costs associated with the new Authority and the Enforcement Agency as well as state specific operational costs should they assume the entire enforcement program now operated by the State,” Martin said.

 

            Martin said that the statute, when implemented, will be similar in some ways to the system in place for RCI Members in Canada, except that investigations there and adjudications are handled by Provincial Racing Commissions with testing and screening limits handled by a federal agency uniformly.  

 

HARAMBE DEO HUGE IN BIG M FEATURE

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Harambe Deo put on a show Saturday night at The Meadowlands in taking the $20,000 high-end conditioned pacing feature in a lifetime-best 1:48.4.

“He’s never predictable,” said trainer Jeff Cullipher. “But he will come up large sometimes and then sometimes he’ll get beat when you think he shouldn’t.”

The 5-year-old gelded son of Woodstock-Tea Time came up large this time.

Driver Simon Allard had the gas pedal all the way down from post six in the seven-horse field (there was one scratch), and to make sure he put 2-1 second choice Western Joe in the two-hole, paced the opening fraction in a sensational :25.4.

“When I saw that quarter,” said Cullipher. “I said ‘he’s cooked’.”

Geez Joe, the 8-5 favorite, sat a three-hole early before powering up to grab the top at the half in a quick :53.3 as Harambe Deo yielded and sat the pocket.

But on the far turn – to his trainer’s surprise – Harambe Deo pulled out of the two-hole and came after the leader at three-quarters (1:22.1), opened up a 1½-length edge turning for home, then drew clear through the stretch to defeat Geez Joe by 2¼ lengths. Wes Delight was third.

“[Harambe Deo] is usually right there,” said Cullipher. “But I was surprised Simon kept him alive.”

As the fourth choice in the wagering, Harambe Deo – who paced his final quarter in :26.2 – returned $18.80 to win. He now has 15 victories from 80 lifetime starts and earnings of $242,619 for owners Pollack Racing and Jeff Cullipher.

THREE PEATS: Cullipher’s night did not merely consist of winning the feature, as he sent three to victory lane. … Bruce Saunders matched Cullipher by also training three winners on the card. … Corey Callahan topped the drivers with three scores.

A LITTLE MORE: Franco Totem N flexed his back-class muscles in taking the first of two Fall Harvest Series Finals (for non-winners of $4,500) on the pace by 3¾ lengths, and in the process, lowered his previous lifetime best by a full second after hitting the wire in 1:49. George Napolitano Jr. drove the 7-year-old gelded son of Changeover-Treaty Franco, who was the even-money public choice, for trainer Nifty Norman. …  Decision Day and Callahan worked out a perfect pocket trip to take the other division (this one for non-winners of $7,600) as the 8-5 second choice. The Saunders trained 5-year-old gelded son of Rock N Roll-Chief Karen hit the wire in 1:49, also lowering his previous lifetime best by a full second. … All-source wagering totaled $2,245,221. … Racing resumes Friday at 7:15 p.m.

BOB HECKHOFF WINS A.H.D.C. TROT AT FREEHOLD ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON

by John Manzi for the American Harness Drivers Club

Freehold, NJ—Bob “the Headhunter” Hechkoff knows that when a driver have the best horse in the race there's only one place to be and that place is on the lead. So that's just where he put Pound Sterling in the $9000 leg of the American Harness Drivers Club series at Freehold Raceway on Saturday afternoon, October 10.

After being roughed-up though a :28.4 first quarter Hechkoff's charge made the top from the five-hole and once there it was catch me if you can-- and nobody could as the veteran trotter chugged to a  2:00.1 victory

When the starter said “go” Paul “the Coach” Minore grabbed the racetrack with his old veteran, Wygant Prince, and then allowed a parked -out Pound Sterling to take command .

Hechkoff lead the competition by the first stanza but he had to contend with Permanent Joy, and driver Bobby “Rapid Rail” Krivlen, who moved first-up as the field headed to the half. Krivelin”s trotter was at first troubling to the leader but Hechkoff's charge was up to the task and rebuffed the challenge

When the field straightened for home Pound Sterling was in command and 7-year-old Muscle Hill gelding held the lead all the way to the wire. After a two-hole journey Wygant Prince was second best while Fiji and driver Dave “the Rave” Offenberg garnered the show dough.

The winner is co-owned by Kyle Spagnola and his driver and is trained by Spagnola. He paid $4.80 for win.   

 

ADORABELLA, ‘FERRARI’ SCORE IN BIG M’S FALL HARVEST

 

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Adorabella and Century Ferrari were the winners Friday night at The Meadowlands as the mile oval hosted a pair of Fall Harvest Series Finals for pacers as the co-featured events on the card.

Adorabella, a 4-year-old by Pet Rock-Bella Marta, took the division for fillies and mares in a lifetime-best 1:53.1 for driver Victor Kirby. The Don Niccum trainee, who won for a third straight start, never saw the rail around the first turn and blew past early leader Rock N Roll Rosie just after the quarter, which went in :26.3.

Now a nine-time winner from 40 lifetime starts, Adorabella ($8.00 to win as the second choice) led past the half and took pressure from Streak The Lawn around the far turn while Streak The Lawn was providing a live tow for even-money favorite Jazz Fest.

A final quarter of :28.3 proved to be enough for the winner to hold on by three-quarters-of-a-length. Justabitofcharm went the inside route to get second. Jazz Fest tipped off cover at just the right time with a little more than an eighth of a mile to go but sputtered from there in a no-excuse third-place finish.

Century Ferrari, trained and driven by Bill Mann, won the dash for horses and geldings in 1:52.3, giving the offspring of American Ideal-Sounds Perfect seven wins from 38 lifetime starts.

The 4-year-old gelding had things go his way, thanks to a perfect steer from Mann. After 9-5 favorite Thunder Some Where cleared the top before the half, Pembroke Joey rushed up into contention around the far turn while providing a perfect tow for the eventual winner, who tipped off his cover at the eighth pole and needed every inch of the stretch to get past a pesky Pembroke Joey by a neck. Thunder Some Where held third.

As the 2-1 second choice, Century Ferrari returned $6.20 to win.

A LITTLE MORE: Kirby, who won four last Friday after his trip up the NJ Turnpike, guided three to victory lane. … Leon Bailey, the leading driver this year on the New York County Fair circuit, proved he can hack it in the bright lights of the big city, winning twice on program, his first two victories at The Meadowlands. … All-source wagering totaled $1,776,958. … Racing resumes Saturday at 7:15 p.m.

Meadowlands Racetrack to Re-Open Saturday Morning

 

Meadowlands Racetrack Media Relations

East Rutherford, NJ - The Meadowlands Racetrack will re-open to patrons tomorrow, Saturday, October 10^th at 11 a.m. for simulcasting, sports wagering and live racing.

The entire facility underwent top to bottom sanitization and all employees were COVID tested.  The Meadowlands Racetrack continues its commitment to providing a safe and healthy grandstand for all employees, patrons and fans.

Patrons are reminded that face masks must be worn over their nose and mouth at all times and social distancing must be followed.

Live harness racing will take place at 7:15 p.m. on Saturday night. Horsemen are reminded to have the COVID questionnaire completed when arriving at the stable gate for their temperature check.  Face masks worn over the mouth and nose are required at all times while in the paddock.

Visit PlayMeadowlands.com for the most up-to-date information. Reminder you must be 18+ to wager on horses; 21+ to wager on sports. Gambling problem? Dial 1-800-Gambler.