By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Warrior One
started the year like a house on fire, scoring in seven of his first nine
starts for trainer Ron Burke before going winless in his next seven outings.
So much for the losing streak.
The 4-year-old gelded son of Father
Patrick-Yoga, the only wire-to-wire winner on the card, made his fifth 2020
visit to the Meadowlands winner’s circle in the featured high-end conditioned
trot Friday night after stopping the clock in an eye-popping 1:51.4 to lower
his previous lifetime best by a full second.
Driver Andy Miller had designs on the
top and guided Warrior One directly to the lead, hitting the quarter in :26.3.
A rated second fraction of :28.3 followed as Trolley, using trotting hopples
for the second time, came first over as they approached the far turn.
But Miller hit the gas pedal again as
Trolley, the 3-1 second choice, struggled on the far turn. Warrior One was
still going well on the point after rating the middle half in :57.2 before
opening up a 2¼-length edge at the head of the stretch on the pocket-sitting
7-5 favorite, HL Revadon.
Warrior One then finished the job by
sprinting home in :27.4 to hit the wire three lengths in front of HL Revadon,
who was no match. Eye Ofa Tiger As was third. Trolley faded to fifth in the
seven-horse field.
Owned by Frank Canzone and Yannick
Gingras, Warrior One returned $15.60 as the fourth choice in the wagering in
winning for the eighth time this year from 17 starts. Lifetime, he has 12
victories from 47 tries and earnings of $202,446.
A LITTLE MORE: A two-day 20-cent Pick-6 carryover of
$13,394 led to a total pool of over $51,000, and after a sequence that saw
winner’s odds of 2-1, 7-2, 6-1, 6-1, 9-2 and 2-1, the payoff was a handsome
$23,020.24. … The 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 made its return to The Big M betting
menu. One lucky player wagering into the Oregon Express hub had the only ticket
with all seven winners and cashed in for $3,118.82. … Anette Lorentzon recorded
a training double while drivers Vinny Ginsburg and George Napolitano Jr. each
won twice to pace the driver’s colony. … All-source handle totaled $1,961,021.
… Racing resumes Saturday at 7:15 p.m. with four Kindergarten Classic Finals –
worth over $800,000 in total purses – sitting atop the marquee.
