‘KING’ REIGNS IN PETER HAUGHTON AT BIG M

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – The horses are now set for the two marquee 2-year-old trotting events at The Meadowlands on Hambletonian Day (Saturday, Aug. 7) as eliminations got field sizes down to 10 for the $275,000 (est.) Peter Haughton Memorial for colts and geldings and $300,000 (est.) Jim Doherty Memorial for fillies Friday night at The Big M.

King Of The North stamped himself as the favorite in the Haughton with an easy score in his elim in 1:56.1 for driver Mark MacDonald and trainer Ray Schnittker. The colt, a son of Walner-Check Me Out, used a quick burst of speed to get by early leader Temporal Hanover heading to the half and tripped that beam in a sleepy :57.3.

The 4-5 favorite maintained the lead from there, recording a 1¼-length win over the pocket-sitting 6-5 second choice Temporal Hanover. The final time was three-and-two-fifth-seconds slower than his lifetime best, much to the delight of his trainer.

“He’s like a professional soldier,” said Schnittker. “He got cheap fractions, which is good for next week. He didn’t have to do much. He just had to brush for an eighth of a mile. I was a little concerned with the horse in the two-hole because I wanted to win so we can get a better post draw for the final.”

Elimination winners get to draw for post positions one through six in both the Haughton and Doherty.

“He’s a really nice horse,” said Schnittker. “He’s like a 5-year-old. Hopefully, he gets the job done next week.”

Global Pandemic, B A Superhero and Looks Like Moni finished third through fifth, respectively, in the six-horse field (with one scratch) to earn spots in the final.

King Of The North paid $3.60 to win after upping his stats to four wins from four lifetime starts.

Robertsin (a gelding by Muscle Hill-Sina) won the other Haughton elim in wire-to-wire fashion for driver George Brennan and trainer Nik Drennan. In winning for the first time in four career starts, Robertsin trotted the mile in 1:54.4 after hitting the wire three-quarters-of-a-length to the good and returned $4.60 to win as the 6-5 public choice.

“I liked him right along,” said Brennan. “He’s been drawing bad posts [post nine in all three career starts heading into Friday] but he got to see the left side of the starter car tonight [post five] and didn’t surprise me at all. He trotted home well into the wind. He’s awful good. Winning this race so we could draw a good post for the final was definitely on my mind. You’re not just looking to qualify for the final and hope you draw well. I think it’s a great way to do it.”

Letsdoit S, Classic Hill, Fast As The Wind and S I P finished second through fifth, respectively, in the seven-horse field to punch their tickets to the final.

Joviality S (Chapter Seven-Pasithea Face S) challenged leader Delilah Hanover on the far turn before going on to a convincing 2¼-length score in the lone Doherty elim. The Marcus Melander trainee, who was driven by Brian Sears, stopped the clock in a lifetime-best 1:54.1 in winning for the second time in three lifetime outings. She paid $7.60 as the second choice in the wagering.

With Venerable having received a bye, the top nine in the official order of finish qualified for the final. Finishing second through ninth, respectively, were Jiggy Jog S, Valentina Blu, Brickhouse Babe, Raised By Lindy, 9-5 favorite Mon Cheval (who went a brutal trip from post 10), Peyton Hanover, Delilah Hanover and Pink Gypsy.

A LITTLE MORE: MacDonald led the driver’s colony with three winners. … Per Engblom trained a pair of winner’s circle visitors. … A carryover of $10,855 served as the catalyst for a total pool of $51,845 in the 20-cent Pick-6. Those holding winning tickets collected $2,720.04. … All-source wagering totaled $2,632,322. ... Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m. A pair of eliminations for both the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks highlight the card.

DeFRANK’S VISION HELPED BIG M RISE TO HARNESS HEIGHTS

 Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – To use race caller terminology, The Meadowlands is in “deep stretch” of their Summer Meeting with just two weekends of racing remaining, with the final day being the granddaddy of them all, Hambletonian Day, on Saturday, August 7.

This Saturday (July 31), 36 three-year-old trotters will compete for spots in not only the $1-million Hambletonian Final, but also its sister event, the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks Final, as both events will have two eliminations. The Hambletonian Elims will whittle 16 male trotters down to 10 while the fillies will see half of 20 entrants advance.

The finals for the Hambo and Hambo Oaks will serve as the marquee events on a spectacular 16-race program on Aug. 7 that has a special early post time of noon.

Much of The Meadowlands’ rise to the top of North American harness racing can be attributed to their late, great, longtime former racing secretary Joe DeFrank. With The Meadowlands Pace – a race conceived by DeFrank in 1977 – now in the rearview mirror, looking back at some of what made DeFrank such a pivotal part of The Big M’s legacy is well timed.

First of all, DeFrank had a thought of how racing would look at The Big M. His vision turned out to be the catalyst to send the big oval in East Rutherford to the head of the harness racing class.

It all started with a 10-horse starting gate and the bigger one-mile track. Then, he spoke with the drivers.

“In the first driver’s meeting we ever had here,” said DeFrank. “I tried to lay out the style of racing that I wanted. No backing off to the halves. No sitting in. If you are on the outside, just keep going. I want you out and going and moving. And if you get beat, you get beat.”

DeFrank’s plan came through TV screens across America on Meadowlands Pace Night (July 17). In the four-race sequence shown live on Fox Sports 2, a national television audience saw no winning favorites, no winners coming from inside posts, no horses winning on the lead and 15 horses that went parked the entire mile, an average of almost four per race.

“The [Meadowlands] Pace Night national telecast was Meadowlands’ Championship Meeting racing in its most contentious form,” said Big M Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “A style of racing that Joe DeFrank and the current Meadowlands ownership believe showcases Standardbred racing at its competitive best. Forty-five years later, DeFrank’s vision, adapted to today’s racing style and combined with the perfect one-mile racetrack, continues to create the highest handles and the most exciting Standardbred racing in the world.”

(To see a video of Joe DeFrank, go to https://youtu.be/kvrAyKKe60U)

PICK SIX CARRYOVER: There were no winning tickets sold in the 20-cent Pick-6 last Saturday (July 24) night, so there will be a carryover of $10,855 heading into the wager with the low 15 percent takeout. The bet kicks off in the eighth race on Friday (July 30) night.

PICK-4 HAS HAMBO HOOK: On Saturday (July 31) night, the two Hambletonian Eliminations will kick off both 20-cent Pick-4s. The bets with the low 15 percent takeout and $50,000 guaranteed pool begin on races six and 10, respectively.

FABULOUS FULL FIELDS: Both Hambletonian Oaks Eliminations (races five and seven) will offer full 10-horse fields that are extremely competitive and will offer plenty of opportunities to make a score.

FREE PROGRAMS: Free programs for every race of every Meadowlands card are available to the public, and all one has to do to access them is go to playmeadowlands.com.

LOW TAKEOUT, BIG PAYOUTS: Here are the six popular Meadowlands’ wagers that offer a low 15 percent takeout on a nightly basis:

·         Race 1: 20-cent Pick-5

·         Race 3: 20-cent Survivor Pick-7

·         Race 6: 50-cent Pick-4

·         Race 8: 20-cent Pick-6

·         Race 10: 50-cent Pick-4

·         Race 13: 10-cent Hi-5/Pentafecta

START TWEETING: You can always check in with the team at The Meadowlands on Twitter.

For early changes, racing information and staff selections, go to @themeadowlands or #playbigm.

On race nights, stay in touch with the Big M’s Dave Brower (@eedoogie), Dave Little (@DaveLittleBigM), Ken Warkentin (@kenvoiceover) and Jessica Otten (@JessicaOtten1).

BROWER’S BEST BETS: For those who like to get a leg up on the action, go to playmeadowlands.com to see oddsmaker Brower’s selections and analysis. Click on the “handicapping” tab and go to “race reviews”.

Brower’s input is generally available 48 hours before every card.

HOW TO GET IN THE GAME: The best way to experience the action on the track and at the windows is to go to The Meadowlands, but for those who can’t make the trip, they can still tune in and get their action.

One of the best ways to watch the action at The Big M – as well as all other races at other venues – is to get a subscription to Roberts Television Network. All you do is go to rtn.tv for an affordable way to bring the action to your TV, smartphone or other device.

A good way to get your bets in is to use the Television Games Network (tvg.com) or your favorite Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) site.

CHECK OUT THE SHOW: Big M TV’s live “Racing from The Meadowlands” pre-game show, which provides news, notes, features, staff selections and a look at that evening’s marquee races, gets underway at 5:47 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night.

Live action continues for the next two weekends on Friday and Saturday. Post time is 6:20 p.m. with one exception: Hambletonian Day (noon).

BET THE USA, USA, USA! For the first time ever, sports bettors in New Jersey can wager on the Olympics, and there is no better place in The Garden State to get your Olympic action, not to mention Major League Baseball and a plethora of other sports, at one of the leading sportsbooks in the country, the one inside the grandstand at The Meadowlands, The FanDuel Sportsbook.

In a women’s soccer match slated to begin Friday morning at 7 a.m., the USA is the favorite at +125 while the underdog Netherlands is +180. If you want to bet on a tie being the result, the price is +280.

In golf, Viktor Hovland, Paul Casey and Xander Schauffele were all +1100 to win the gold medal as of noon Thursday.

Sports betting enthusiasts can get in on all the action at “The Book” Sunday-Friday from 10 a.m.-midnight and Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 a.m. The cash counter is open from 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

Hambletonian Week Showcases Lasting Legacy of Hall of Famer Joe DeFrank

 

by JAY BERGMAN for the Hambletonian Society

In 1975, Joe DeFrank was hired by the NJ Sports and Exposition Authority to shape the future of harness racing in the multi-million sports complex planned for the swamps of Jersey. DeFrank stayed in that position for 30 years until his retirement. He passed away in 2020, and the Meadowlands management and Hambletonian Society honored DeFrank by titling the summer Grand Circuit meet that culminates in Hambletonian Day the Joe DeFrank Championship Meet.   

History depends a lot on who tells the story. In the case of the origin of The Meadowlands Racetrack, which opened on September 1, 1976 much has been dramatized in a “Field of Dream” scenario. “If you build it they will come,” is a glorified way of looking at it since the crowd that evening was enormous and stretched the limits of expectations.

The back story of history is far different than the one portrayed and one needs to look at the larger landscape that surrounded a barren area of New Jersey at the time great minds came together and imagined a New Jersey Sports and Exposition Complex. From strictly a harness racing perspective those who envisioned a “one-mile” track located close to metropolitan New York, anticipated dual use of the surface putting a course in that thoroughbreds would use as well. There was certainly enough land to fit the larger scale track but the wisdom of opening to harness racing at a time when half-milers at Yonkers and Roosevelt were the standards for the industry, came with great risk.

History never quite fully sees the big picture as specific events, such as the amazing first night, lay the foundation for tales large and small of how things first got started.

Joe DeFrank may have been a lot of things to a lot of different people but above all he was a dynamic visionary and a leader of men and, yes, horses too. The celebration of his life and legacy currently underway at The Meadowlands Championship Meet extends from his passion to bring the best horses to East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Inclusive among the many stakes events he added to his program is the 96^th Hambletonian that will be contested on August 7 and of course The Meadowlands Pace, a signature event that he constructed by convincing horse owners to pay a series of escalating fees for nomination and then sustaining fees to help create a larger purse.

In today’s vernacular it was a “Go Fund Me” page contributed to by owners hungry to race for purses formerly unknown to this industry.

While all of the stakes races DeFrank helped conceive and flourish are certainly enough to put him in the harness racing Hall of Fame they pale in comparison to the actual work he and his intense and devoted staff put in to overcome extraordinary obstacles and create something magical. What has been forgotten to many is not lost on this observer who attended the opening night and fell in love with a new and exciting racing product that carried with it endless betting opportunities.

The half mile track racing at Yonkers Raceway not only drew strong crowds as they offered a winning product with just eight horses in a race and easy viewing of the entire field with or without binoculars. Gambling to those who made it a regular thing was then a science of understanding the movements of the regular driving colony as well as the nuances of ABC class racing. It was simple and easy to digest for regulars since the racing secretary determined the class and the betting public didn’t have to factor it in. Racing on half-mile tracks at the time was patterned far differently than we see today with fields generally four-in-four-out with a half a mile remaining. The challenge DeFrank and his associates faced at the time was somehow getting people to travel cross state lines number one, then convince them to wager on mile track racing, which before DeFrank’s Meadowlands typically featured eight horses following single file into a quarter-mile stretch before any actual activity took place.

“Product” familiarity was another serious issue on DeFrank’s plate and he clearly recognized that while he couldn’t duplicate the exact scenario Yonkers and Roosevelt regulars had become accustomed to, he could create something bigger and better. The track itself would be a larger scale and many of the drivers and trainers that first came to The Meadowlands would be unfamiliar to many locals.

That DeFrank was somehow able to convince a broad swath of North America’s top training and driving talent to ship large stables to New Jersey was no small feat. Most of those successful stables were leaders in their own states and provinces and were venturing to new territory with expectations may not necessarily be fulfilled. 

The Meadowlands had to be a racing/gambling success in order to fund the promised overnight purses promised. Had DeFrank failed to attract a large ontrack audience, one that was not just willing to show up at the track, but also had to wager heavily -- then the powers at Yonkers and Roosevelt would still be laughing today.

That turned out not to be the case, yet it wasn’t just about new drivers and new trainers and new horses at a new racetrack. That was just a mirage to what was really going on behind the scenes and more specifically on the racetrack. DeFrank appealed to horsemen on one end of the equation but also appealed to gamblers by increasing field size from eight over the half mile track to 10 at The Meadowlands. He knew in 1976 that larger fields offered more variables and eventually would lead to better prices.

While Yonkers and Roosevelt held the stage prior much of its nightly racing was patterned by speed tickets where the horses racing first and second from the start would finish that way. That’s why DeFrank’s abandonment of the ABC class system was revolutionary to many and ran the risk of asking too much from gamblers that lived and breathed it their entire careers. Yet that’s exactly where his true genius as a racing secretary comes in. In offering a system based on earnings DeFrank was appealing to horsemen from all parts to come to a track open to prosperity. The thought at the time was that many trainers would be able to show up with quality horses and have them primed to win at realistically reduced levels. It was all the inducement DeFrank needed to attract the horsemen who would provide the foundation for The Meadowlands.

With horsemen in place, it may look as if DeFrank’s job was successful just by putting together a few racing programs and of course the overwhelming presence of racing fans in the stands, but that’s only where he began the journey towards creating the most competitive brand of harness racing this country has ever seen.

DeFrank knew from day one that his mile track racing could not prove competitive at the highest level if horsemen proved reluctant to use their horses before the quarter-mile stretch run. He understood what he was facing in trying to capture and captivate gamblers to wager on larger fields if the bettors never got to see their horses in the picture contending for the win. DeFrank understood gamblers and gambling and he recognized he would lose more fans than gain them if the racing product was unnecessarily boring.

Word has it that DeFrank in his very first meeting with the horsemen let it be known that his mile track racing at The Meadowlands was going to be different. He told all drivers and trainers that he wanted to see movement and if horses were on the outside they best be moving forward. DeFrank was not the type to be “asking” any favors of anyone. His request to the drivers was a demand and over the course of the first years at The Meadowlands those who failed to follow his demands found themselves racing at other tracks. DeFrank held the keys to the stable area and if a particular driver or trainer failed to follow his strict racing guidelines there would be no rooms at the “inn” for their horses in the following seasons.

Of course, there was grumbling on the horsemen’s side at the time as many were not accustomed to being questioned about their behavior on the racetrack by anyone but the judges. In DeFrank horsemen quickly found out that he was someone who didn’t go home after the races were drawn. DeFrank watched the races and had his associates report to him about what they saw or didn’t see in each race every night. For some this would inevitably lead to being summoned to his office following a night’s work and being issued a stern warning.

DeFrank’s leadership may have been tough love to some, but it would lead to some core values that helped propel The Meadowlands brand as the ideal blend of opportunity for horsemen and gamblers alike. That’s not something that could easily be achieved without a stern force at the helm.

While there was certainly a learning curve for horsemen and gamblers alike adjusting to the conditioned racing program DeFrank was mindful of not being played by horsemen who might be looking for a drop in class of their own making. The nuances required to understand this dynamic are often missed by many in the sport, but DeFrank was sharp and simply would not allow a horse or horsemen entry into a particular race if he believed there was any kind of lack of effort involved in getting there.

What’s fascinating looking back in time at the early days of The Meadowlands is just how intuitive DeFrank and his staff were when it came to putting together a complete card of racing. This was not simply drop in the box and draw for DeFrank, as he meticulously went over all the entries. Over time there proved to be a “DeFrank effect” when there were two separate divisions of the same class on a given program. To understand the subtle nature of DeFrank’s impact say 20 horses that were all non-winners of $8,000 in their last six starts entered for a particular card. DeFrank and his associates would attempt to take the best 10 from the group and place them in one division and the other 10 in another race. In doing so DeFrank was assuring himself and the gamblers two solid competitive fields to wager on. His expertise was from years of experience and a keen eye. The horsemen would complain about this from time to time as not being fair, but for DeFrank the business of the Meadowlands and its ultimate success was more important than hurt feelings of a few.

When history judges Joe DeFrank’s Meadowlands legacy, it will recognize a strong personality with great conviction towards success. At times he led with an iron hand and while there may have been critics, his leadership was the single element in creating a brand of racing unseen before and in some ways missed today.

MEADOWLANDS RACING & ENTERTAINMENT’S ANNUAL SEAFOOD FEST

Meadowl

EasJoin M     East Rutherford, NJ - Join Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment on Saturday July 31^st for the annual Seafood Fest beginning at 6pm.

The racetrack apron will be loaded with local food trucks serving the freshest seafood around! Featured seafood trucks include Angry Archie’s, TreeJ’s Delicious BBQ, Rods Fish and Chips, Cousins Maine Lobster, DAW Concessions, Carnival Concessions, Simply Southern Seafood, Con-Fusion Philly, The Little Sicilian. Each truck will offer different seafood dishes with plenty of options to choose from including lobster rolls, shrimp tacos, crab cakes, fresh oysters and clams, fried clams and more.

There will be plenty of other trucks for those looking for some non-seafood items including BBQ, empanadas, fries, sandwiches, ice cream and more.  These vendors include Magic Mike’s Smoked Meats, The Mozzarella God, The Empanada Truck, The Rolling Pita, Clyde’s Homemade Ice Cream and Italian Ice, Yam Go Weh and King & Queen Pasta.

A complete list of trucks can be found at http://playmeadowlands.com/event_detail.aspx?id=14424

Adding to the seafood theme is the 2^nd annual Chowder Cook-off!  Restaurants and home cooks can enter for a chance to win $500.

 

While indulging in great seafood guests can watch live harness racing starting at 6:20 pm. The world class harness racing features eliminations for the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks and $1 million Hambletonian.

 

Information on live racing, dining and events at the Meadowlands Racetrack can be found at PlayMeadowlands.com

 

AMBASSADOR HANOVER, REALLY FAST ‘GEER’ UP AT BIG M

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Ambassador Hanover and Really Fast won their respective $48,250 divisions of the Tompkins-Geers for 3-year-old colts and geldings on the trot Saturday night at The Meadowlands, setting them up well for next week’s Hambletonian Eliminations.

Ambassador Hanover, off a dominant victory in New York Sire Stakes action at Yonkers July 13, left hard from post six in his split and was on the point at the quarter in a quick :26.4 as 3-5 public choice – and winterbook Hambletonian favorite – Venerate, who broke in two of his last three starts, was handled with caution by driver Andy Miller and sat in the three-hole behind the pocket-sitting On A Streak.

A slow second fraction of :29.4 left plenty in the tank for the ‘Ambassador’, who had no problem shrugging off a challenge from Venerate on the far turn before going on to a safe half-length score in a lifetime-best 1:52.3 to lift his lifetime record to seven wins from 13 starts. On A Streak was second with Venerate third.

A son of Chapter Seven-Angel Eyes Hanover, Ambassador Hanover, who is trained and driven by Ake Svanstedt, returned $7.40 as the second choice in the betting.

Really Fast came through for the chalk players, scoring in the second T-G division for males as the 1-2 public choice in a lifetime-best-equaling 1:51.2, a mark he set in a qualifier seven days ago.

Calle Palema left quickly from post one and stretched out Really Fast as that one did not clear the lead until just after the half in :55.3. From there, the son of Muscle Hill-Stubborn Belle had no trouble, hitting the wire 5¼ lengths in front of a fast-closing Spy Booth to complete a 1-2 finish for the Nancy Takter barn. Calle Palema held third.

Unraced at 2, Really Fast, who was driven by Dexter Dunn, has now won four of seven lifetime outings. He returned $3.00 to win.

The 31-year-old Dunn, fresh off a Friday night that saw him guide seven to victory lane, also piloted the winners of both $46,450 Tompkins-Geers divisions for sophomore trotting fillies.

Adirondack (Father Patrick-Mission Brief) did not go the best of trips but reigned supreme nonetheless in her split, vacating the three-hole just past the half before grinding away at leader Hot As Hill on the way to a determined half-length score in 1:52.2 after poking her head in front with an eighth of a mile to go. Miss Vet Hanover and Awesome Trix were second and third, respectively.

“She’s really developing into a nice racehorse,” said winning trainer Takter. “She was very wound up as a 2-year-old. I think she’s going to have a really nice fall.”

As the 8-5 favorite, Adirondack returned $5.40 after winning for the third time from 10 lifetime starts.

Eazy Pass (Muscle Hill-Livininthefastlane) pulled off a big upset at 18-1 in the second division for trainer Nifty Norman, returning $38.40 to win after scoring in a lifetime-best 1:53.3.

All eyes were on 2-5 public choice Piper Hanover, who was seeking her fifth win in a row, but she faltered after cutting out rated fractions of :28.1, :57.3 and 1:26.1 on the front end.

When Piper Hanover weakened in mid-stretch, the pocket-sitting Dutiful – who was 49-1 – appeared to be going on to victory, but Eazy Pass, who sat a three-hole trip, caught that one nearing the wire to win by a half-length. Piper Hanover finished third.

A LITTLE MORE: Dunn led the driver colony with three winners on the card, giving him 10 for the weekend. The Big M’s leading driver now has 116 victories on the year. … There were no winning tickets sold in the 20-cent Pick-6, creating a carryover of $10,855.23 for the next race card. Those with five correct collected $248.50. … All-source handle totaled $2,617,831. … Racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m.

A Night at the Races for Young Harness Fans

Meadowlands Racetrack

East Rutherford, NJ - Fifty-nine contestants vied for $5,000 in prize monies in the 2021 edition of the 18 to 30- year old handicapping challenge at Meadowlands Racetrack on Saturday, July 24. The contest offered a $5,000 total prize pool, with prize payouts to the top four finishers.

Brother and sister duo Erik and Kristen Polczer of Oak Ridge, NJ took home first and second place.  Both contestants scored with Miss Vet Hanover in the sixth race who paid $30 to place and show.  They also both hit with long-shot Eazy Pass in Race 8 for a $57 across the board score.

 

Erik had two other scores, one in race 5 and one in race 10 to give him $101.20 and the $2,000 top prize. Kristen finished right behind with $95 earning $1,500.

“I got the call first and couldn’t believe it,” said Erik. “Then when Kristen got the call saying she finished in second place we couldn’t get back out to the Backyard contest area fast enough. It is a great night!”

Aaron Dudek of Garfield, NJ finished in third place with $83.50, winning $1,000. Chris McCann of Highland Oaks finished fourth earning $500.

There is no contest entry fee. The contest format required players to make a mythical $2 "across the board" wager on one horse in races 2 – 10 at the Meadowlands. The winner was determined by the player that amasses the largest mythical bankroll from their selections.

All contest participants were treated to BBQ and other grill items plus soft drinks and water in the Backyard.

Next up at the Meadowlands Racetrack is the annual Seafood Food Truck Fest on Saturday, July 31.  This free event runs from 5 - 11 pm and fans are encouraged to come out and taste some of the best seafood around.  The race card features the eliminations for the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks.   

 

Event details can be found at Hambletonian (meadowlandsracetrack.com) 

Wins Open Trot at Vernon

Discus Hanover (Leon Bailey) holds off Credit List (Justin Huckabone) to capture the $7000 Open Trot at Vernon Downs on Saturday (July 24). 

Discus Hanover ($6.90) took the lead just before hitting the first quarter first in :25.4.  Spoiler Alert (Truman Gale) came along side to challenge as they reached the backstretch.  Discus Hanover led to the half in :56.1.  As they moved around the final turn the favorite, Credit List (Justin Huckabone), made his move.  Discus Hanover led to three-quarters in 1:25.4.   

In the stretch Discus Hanover braced for the late charge of Credit List.  Discus Hanover dug in as Credit List just kept coming.  In the end Discus Hanover held off second place finisher Credit List to win in 1:54.4.  Frisky Joe (Ben McNeil) finished third. 

Discus Hanover is a 4-year-old gelding by Credit Winner.  He is owned by Phillip Hale and trainer David Dewhurst.  It was his seventh win this season.  He now has 23 career victories. 

Leon Bailey drove three winners on the card and leads all drivers with 65 wins.  Justin Huckabone is second on the list with 31 victories. Chris Long had three wins tonight and is third with 25 trips to the winner’s circle.  Jimmy Whittemore (21) and John MacDonald (20) round out the top five. 

Jeff Sorenson leads all trainers with 17 wins.  Jessica Okusko and Bruce Lauer are tied for second with 14 wins a piece.  Justin Huckabone (13) and Gary Gibson (11) round out the top five. 

On a side note, the amazing 76-year-old Miriam Toland went gate-to-wire with First Response ($10.60).  Toland is believed to be the oldest woman to win a parimutuel race.   

Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Friday (July 30).  Post time is 6:10 p.m.   

For more information go to www.vernondowns.com 

GETTING IT DUNN! DEXTER WINS 7 AT BIG M

 

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Dexter Dunn is now turning the amazing into the mundane.

The 31-year-old New Zealand native was at the top of his game Friday night at The Meadowlands, winning seven races on the 13-race program. Dunn won all but four of the eleven $20,000 divisions of the Kindergarten Series for 2-year-olds of both gaits and sex.

It marked the second time in the last six weeks that Dunn won seven on a card, achieving the feat for the first time in 2021 on June 18. He also won seven races on Jan. 11 of 2020, so the last three times the feat has been accomplished, each time it was the driver known as “Double D” turning the trick. The Big M record of eight winners on a card is shared by Mike Lachance (1995) and Brett Miller (2016).

“I knew I had some chances [heading into the night],” said Dunn. “Some nice babies that have been racing well. They just worked out and got nice trips. I just think I had the right stock on the right night.”

Dunn’s magnificent seven, with the driver’s commentary, were:

·         Gotthegreenlight (American Ideal-Bet On Luck), a filly pacer, trained by Nifty Norman, who stopped the clock in 1:52.2, paying $2.20 to win.  “She’s three-for-three so she’s doing everything we’ve asked so far. She relaxed well after she made the lead.”

·         Lilbitalexis (Walner-Jolie De Vie), filly trotter, Norman, 1:53.3, $2.80. “Her run tonight was good. She has a future for sure.”

·         American Beauty (Walner-All The Time), filly trotter, Nancy Takter, 1:55.4, $4.60. “She was really hot two starts back. Tonight, we came out of the gate and just kept going forward.”

·         Don’t Fence Me In (Captaintreacherous-Mystery Game), filly pacer, Tony Alagna, 1:52.3, $4.40. “It was a generous pace.” Don’t Fence Me In went wire to wire after a rated opening half of :58.1

·         Selfie Queen (Muscle Hill-Lady Lakewood), filly trotter, Takter, 1:54.2, $4.00. “She’d gone off stride in her previous two outings. They changed some gear on her. Finishing, I still had a good grip on her.”

·         Niki Hill (Always B Miki-Road Bet), filly pacer, Chris Ryder, 1:53.1, $4.00. “I like her. She felt great. I was pretty confident tonight.”

·         Fast As The Wind (Cantab Hall-Wind Stroll), colt trotter, Alagna, 1:55, $3.00. “He’s good, but I think he’ll be better as a 3-year-old. He has a lot of filling out to do.”

Does it ever get old having this high level of success? Dunn was his usual humble self.

“It’s awesome for sure,” he said. “I’m driving for the top trainers, driving good horses. It makes my job easy.”

A LITTLE MORE: Dunn drove eight favorites on the card, his only loss coming with 9-5 shot JK Standingovation in the eighth. He now has 113 wins on the year at The Big M, 31 more than his closest pursuer, Yannick Gingras … Alagna and Takter both had training triples. … All-source wagering totaled $2,399,223. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.

MEADOWLANDS PACE 45 – WHAT A NIGHT!

Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – To say “eventful” describes what transpired during the night of the 45^th edition of The Meadowlands Pace at The Meadowlands is an understatement of epic proportion.

The exceptional Saturday saw 11 stakes races conducted on a stormy, sultry summer night when some nearby Bergen County municipalities got 2½ inches of rain. There was also a disqualification in the track’s signature event, a live two-hour presentation on a nationwide sports network and a visit from the Governor of the Garden State.

It made for an evening that won’t soon be forgotten.

“All of us at The Meadowlands are very grateful to Gov. [Phil] Murphy and everybody at Fox Sports 2,” said Big M Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “The Governor was nice enough to do an interview on the Fox Sports 2 presentation, which was put together brilliantly by the TV team at The New York Racing Association. We hope to work with NYRA and get more exposure for harness racing in the future. NYRA is simply first class all the way.”

(To see Gabe Prewitt’s entire interview with Gov. Murphy, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFylMzKZFEc)

The four races that were televised live on Fox Sports 2 provided great examples of how competitive – and unpredictable – high-stakes harness races can be.

J K First Lady stayed close to the pace before sprinting home in :26.3 to take the Dorothy Haughton Memorial. The Nancy Takter trainee paid $6.60 to win as the second choice, but even more appealing to bettors, she topped a $756.20 trifecta. Her winning time of 1:47.4 was the fastest in the history of the sport for a 4-year-old pacing mare.

The connections of Allywag Hanover decided against putting their hard-hitting 4-year-old in the Tattersalls Summer Sale and are no doubt glad about that, as the Brett Pelling trainee was weaved through the field by Todd McCarthy late to take the William Haughton Memorial as the 5-1 fifth choice in the betting. His time of 1:47.1 equaled the fastest of the year in the game.

Beads proved to be anything but a one-trick speed pony, scoring from off the pace from post 10 (in a bulky field of 12) in the 1 1/8-miles E.T. Gerry Jr. Hambletonian Maturity at odds of 8-1, a remarkable price given the fact that the Per Engblom student had been the betting favorite in four straight starts coming in.

Finally, the crazy happened: The first disqualification of a horse who crossed the finish line first in the history of The Pace. After 14-1 shot Charlie May was DQ'd, the Dr. Ian Moore-trained Lawless Shadow, sent off as the 5-1 fourth choice, was placed first, giving driver Mark MacDonald and Moore their first Pace scores.

So what did the races that made up the “Fox Sports Pick 4” produce?

“It was a throwback to those early Meadowlands years of the 1970s and 80s,” said Settlemoir. “The vision of racing according to the late, great Joe DeFrank, the legendary race secretary whose memory is being honored this year during our Championship Meeting.

“When a driver pulls, you must advance. Without complimentary holes being available, the result is a contentious early pace and fast early fractions, which make inside posts and early speed less advantageous. This makes it possible for horses to close ground in the stretch. Races with more potential contenders create potentially bigger payouts, which creates more interest, which creates more handle.”

No winning favorites, no races where the last half was faster than the first, no horses winning in wire-to-wire fashion and no horses winning from an inside post produced a 50-cent Pick-4 pool that totaled $135,859 and yielded a handsome payoff of $1,223.45.

“The greatest barometer to how contentious the racing was on the Fox Sports 2 telecast,” said Settlemoir, “was in races six through nine [the dashes that comprised the Pick-4]. There were 15 horses that were parked the mile, never seeing the rail. An average of almost four per race.”

The rains might have been torrential, but so was the action, as the wagering bucket filled up and then some.

Total handle for the 14-race program was $4,503,213, marking the second time that Pace Night wagering eclipsed the $4.5-million mark in the last 13 years. The Pace itself took in $677,992 of play, the most action on the track’s signature event in a decade.

PROLIFIC PAYOFFS: With NYRA TV providing the vehicle for The Pace to be telecast live, it was a natural to hook up the top thoroughbred track in the country, Saratoga, with the No. 1 harness venue to create the “Cross Country Pick 5”. Only one favorite scored during the sequence, setting up a nice payout.

·         Saratoga 9^th: Wit ($4.20)

·         Saratoga 10^th: Althiqa ($9.80)

·         Meadowlands 7^th: Allywag Hanover ($12.40)

·         Meadowlands 8^th: Beads ($19.00)

·         Meadowlands 9^th: Lawless Shadow ($12.40)

The 50-cent Cross Country Pick 5 returned $7,104.75, creating the wager’s fourth-highest payoff of the year.

Other payoffs on The Pace Night card worth noting were the 20-cent Pick-6, which returned $5,913.48, and the 20-cent Pick-7, where one shrewd handicapper held the only ticket with six winners and cashed in for $7,441.92.

FREE PROGRAMS: Free programs for every race of every Meadowlands card are available to the public, and all one has to do to access them is go to playmeadowlands.com.

START TWEETING: You can always check in with the team at The Meadowlands on Twitter.

For early changes, racing information and staff selections, go to @themeadowlands or #playbigm.

On race nights, stay in touch with the Big M’s Dave Brower (@eedoogie), Dave Little (@DaveLittleBigM), Ken Warkentin (@kenvoiceover) and Jessica Otten (@JessicaOtten1).

BROWER’S BEST BETS: For those who like to get a leg up on the action, go to playmeadowlands.com to see oddsmaker Brower’s selections and analysis. Click on the “handicapping” tab and go to “race reviews”.

Brower’s input is generally available 48 hours before every card.

LOW TAKEOUT, BIG PAYOUTS: Here are the six popular Meadowlands’ wagers that offer a low 15 percent takeout on a nightly basis:

·         Race 1: 20-cent Pick-5

·         Race 3: 20-cent Survivor Pick-7

·         Race 6: 50-cent Pick-4

·         Race 8: 20-cent Pick-6

·         Race 10: 50-cent Pick-4

·         Race 13: 10-cent Hi-5/Pentafecta

HOW TO GET IN THE GAME: The best way to experience the action on the track and at the windows is to go to The Meadowlands, but for those who can’t make the trip, they can still tune in and get their action.

One of the best ways to watch the action at The Big M – as well as all other races at other venues – is to get a subscription to Roberts Television Network. All you do is go to rtn.tv for an affordable way to bring the action to your TV, smartphone or other device.

A good way to get your bets in is to use the Television Games Network (tvg.com) or your favorite Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) site.

A $100,000 PROMISE: The best bet in all of harness racing, The Big M’s 50-cent Pick-4, offers a $50,000 guaranteed pool both times the wager is offered nightly. The Early P4 gets underway in the sixth race, while the Late P4 kicks off in the 10th.

WHAT’S TO COME? The Meadowlands’ Championship Meeting is dwindling down to a precious few racing programs with just six cards remaining.

Racing will be conducted on the usual Friday and Saturday basis until the end of the meeting. Post time is 6:20 p.m. with one exception, Hambletonian Day (August 7), when the first race heads to the gate at noon.

This Saturday, track goers between the ages of 18 and 30 can enter a free handicapping contest where the total prize pool is $5,000. Players must check-in and register at the Backyard BBQ & Grill by 6:20 p.m. and complete the contest form prior to race two.

Each contestant will receive a $15 food voucher, $10 betting voucher and a free program for the races.

Also on Saturday, 10 randomly chosen participants will go cob-to-cob in the track’s “Corntastic” eating contest for a chance to win $500. There will also be a corn husking competition. Sign up for both at the promotions table.

BET YOUR FAVORITE MVP: Shohei Otani, the star pitcher and hitter for the Los Angeles Angels, is the current -290 favorite to take home the trophy as the American League Most Valuable Player, and the place to get action on futures and, of course, live games, is the FanDuel Sportsbook at The Meadowlands.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the second choice at +210 while Xander Bogaerts is next at +4000.

What about teams to win the World Series? The Los Angeles Dodgers are favored at +390 to win a second consecutive championship. They are followed by the Houston Astros (+450) and Chicago White Sox (+700). The New York Mets and San Diego Padres round out the top five, as both are currently +950.

Sports betting enthusiasts can get in on all the action at “The Book” Sunday-Friday from 10 a.m.-midnight and Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 a.m. The cash counter is open from 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

"Unique' Season Closes At Buffalo Raceway

 

by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway

 

HAMBURG, N.Y. --- "It's been another unique year", said Buffalo Raceway Director of Operations Jon Cramer as he reflected back on the recently completed 2021 live harness racing season.

 

"We started the meet without spectators, then we started welcoming them back and now we are preparing having people back for the entire 2022 season," Cramer said.

 

In the wagering department for 2021, Cramer stated, "It's down but the comparison is tough to gauge from year to year the past few seasons. We were closed, then when we reopened last June (2020), there was no one here but things were going great with our export signal. Things now are kind of what we expected."

 

As far as 2022 goes, Cramer said, "We are looking forward to having fans back for the entire year which we anticipate to be in January, 2022."

 

During the off season, after the Erie County Fair, Buffalo Raceway will undergo the usual track maintenance with more material to be worked into the surface.

 

On the track, there was some great racing with speedy times. There were four new track records either broken or tied during the campaign, all on the pacing side.

 

Keeping in the 'unique' type of season, it was an unusual finish in one of the New York Sire Stakes for 2-year-old filly pacers.  A Girl That Twirls and April Angel finished in a dead heat for the victory and they also had to share a new track mark of 1:55.2.

 

In a division of the NYSS for 2-year-old gelded pacers, Pickup Man Hanover got the victory and covered the mile in 1:56 to ink his name into the record book.

 

Darbie's Ideal tied the mark for 4-year-old horses with a 1:53.4 time which equaled Under Paid's time back from 2020.

 

As far as individual honors, they were announced during Saturday's closing night program.

 

Gerry Sarama took the 'Trainer Of The Meet' award as he dominated the conditioners in the standings, winning by 30 wins over his nearest competition. It was his first training award ever at Buffalo Raceway after finishing fourth or better since 2017. He did win the Batavia Downs title back in 2020 with 64 victories.

 

The 78-year-old Sarama took 63 of 307 starts at Buffalo Raceway and earned $329,306 on the season. He finished with a UTR of .320.

 

Maria Rice, last season's top trainer, finished in second place with 33 wins followed by Shawn McDonough with 30..

 

Jim Morrill Jr. was the "Driver Of The Meet' after he posted 88 victories in 358 starts on the year. The 56-year-old Morrill Jr. had previously won crowns at Buffalo Raceway in 2006 with an astounding 214 victories and in 2016 with 131 wins. He was also the top reinsman in 2020 at Batavia Downs. 

 

Morrill Jr. finished with a solid UDR of .350 and was tops in purse earnings with $575,899.

 

Kevin Cummings was second in driving victories with 77 while David McNeight III finished third with 56.

 

'Trotter Of The Meet' went to the 8-year-old gelded Southern Palms (RC Royalty-Pacific Elegance). Owned by Michael Torcello and trained by Sarama, Southern Palms won four of 10 events and earned $22,909 in the wide open category.

 

Taking the 'Pacer Of The Meet' award was R J P (Somebeachsomewhere-Vysoke Tatry) who is a 7-year-old gelding that is co-owned by the Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Purnel & Libby. Trained by Jim Clouser Jr., R J P captured six of 21 starts at Buffalo Raceway and had at one point had four wins in a row. He has put $37,104 in his bank in 2021.

 

The 'Mare Of The Meet' was Protect Blue Chip (American Ideal-Lucky Turn) who posted six wins in 12 starts and was in the money on three other occasions in top level competition. Co-owned by Vogel & Wags Nags, Team Rice Racing and Adelphi Bloodstock, Protect Blue Chip produced $39,840 in purse earnings for trainer Maria Rice.

 

For the season, post time favorites won at a 45.59 percent clip.

 

The inside post collected the most victories with 124 in 522 starts. The four hole was next in line with 86 wins and the two spot followed with 85.

 

There were 14 claims made during the campaign.

 

Buffalo Raceway also announced that the simulcast area will be closed until January, 2022.

 

For more information including the latest news, race replays, entries and results, go to www.buffaloraceway.com

 

Big Nudge Topples Clarion Hall at Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs

 by Tony Verruso

It was a bit misty and the temperatures dropped considerably for the AHDC amateur trot at Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs on Sunday. Unfortunately for the even money post time favorite Clarion Hall with Joe Pennacchio driving the temperature wasn't the only thing that cooled off. The big gelding's streak of three wins in a row including the AHDC race last week came to a crashing halt.

Clarion Hall did leave the gate as he has in weeks past, but Lucky June Bug and Bob Krivelin made him work pretty hard to get the top this week. Pennacchio was able rate a 30:3 second quarter which jammed up the field a bit. With the trotters in tight quarters, Big Nudge guided by Tony Verruso, who was running up on French Moni and Paul Minore, pulled first up from fourth and steadily gained on the leader. Midway up the bacstretch Verruso urged his horse as he saw Clarion Hall not as sharp as the previous week shortening strides and cleared to the front heading into the last turn. Lucky June Bug slid out behind him but could not muster a late bid and just held of a strong closing Silvermass Volo and Maria de Bruijn for second.

For the winner Big Nudge trained by Symon Spicer, it was his first win of the year in nine tries returning $10.60 to win and trotting an impressive mile in 1:55:3. It was Tony Verruso's eleventh win of the year and twenty fifth race hitting the board in thirty three starts for a UDRS of .522.

Cool Papa Bell, Justice, and Branded By Lindy get NYSS wins at Tioga

Tioga Downs played host to three divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for 2-year-old trotting colts & geldings on Sunday (July 18). 

Cool Papa Bell (Jason Bartlett) destroys field in the $34,300 first division of the NYSS. 

Barn Bully (Corey Callahan) took the lead and led to the first quarter in :29.1.  He then used a :29.4 second quarter to hit the half in :59.0.  Cool Papa Bell ($3.40) made his move from third and brushed on by to grab the lead before hitting three-quarters in 1:27.3. 

As they headed to the stretch Cool Papa Bell turned on the jets and left everyone else far behind as he won easily in 1:56.3.  Grand Spa (Scott Zeron) came up to finish second.  Barn Bully held on for third.   

Cool Papa Bell is a 2-year-old gelding by Chapter Seven-Blk Thai Optional.  He is owned by Runthetable Stables and trained by Jim Campbell.  He is now a perfect three for three in his young career. 

Justice (Ake Svanstedt) breezes to an easy win in the $33,600 second division of the NYSS. 

Justice ($3.00) jumped straight out from the gate and surged right to the lead.  He hit the first quarter in :28.3.  Secret Rule (Joe Bongiorno) came first-up and tucked in second as they went by the stands for the first time.  Justice was first to the half in :57.3 and first to three-quarters in :1:27.1. 

As they made the turn for home Secret Rule popped out of the pocket but he just sputtered as Justice found another gear and just breezed down the stretch to win easily in a lifetime best 1:55.4.  Velvet Style (Jason Bartlett) came up to finish second.  Secret Rule held on for third money. 

Justice is a 2-year-old colt by Chapter Seven-Religulous.  Svanstedt is trainer and part owner with Little E LLC, Torbjorn Swahn Inc., and Myfab Inc.  He is now two for two in his career. 

Branded By Lindy (Scott Zeron) comes flying late to capture the $33,600 third division of the NYSS. 

Quincy Market (Corey Callahan) went straight to the front but Castle House (Kasper Foget) went on by to hit the first quarter first in :27.4.  Quincy Market regained the lead with a lap to go and was first to the half in :56.4.  Distance Learning (Brian Sears) made a first-over move down the backstretch.  Quincy Market shook him off and led to three-quarters in 1:26.0. 

Branded By Lindy ($2.90) was fifth as they hit three-quarters.  As they made the turn for home Quincy Market looked like he was going to put them all away but Branded By Lindy looked like he was shot out of a cannon down the stretch and blew right on by to win easily in 1:56.2.  Quincy Market held on for second.  Chapheart (Jason Bartlett) finished third. 

Branded By Lindy is a 2-year-old colt by Chapter Seven-The Lindy Label.  He is owned by Lindy Farms of Connecticut and trained by Domenico Cecere.  This was his first win in two career starts. 

Tioga Downs returns to Live racing on Saturday (July 24) starting at 6:15 p.m. 

For more information go to www.tiogadowns.com. 

Stranger Things 'Cleans Up' At Buffalo Raceway

 

by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway

 

HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Stranger Things literally let Daylight Rush do the dirty work over the sloppy track at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night (July 17) but cleaned up in the end with a stunning $57.00 victory in the $11,500 Class AA pace.

 

With the heavily favored Daylight Rush cutting the splits with fractions of :29.1, :58.0 and 1:27.2 over the rain-soaked half mile oval, Stranger Things (Kyle Cummings) followed along in the pocket.

 

Turning for home, Daylight Rush (David McNeight III) tried to hang on but Stranger Things and Art Scene converged on the leader. Things were tight at the end with a three-way photo needed to call the winner. Stranger Things finished getting a head in front of the hard-charging Art Scene (Shawn McDonough) while Daylight Rush had to settle for a tough luck third.

 

Stranger Things (Western Terror-Southwind Prairie) is conditioned by Angelo Nappo and is co-owned by Virginia Schoeffel, Kathy Schoeffel and Jim Reuther. The 5-year-old gelding has now won four of 23 starts on the season, earning $24,049 and $103,460 in his career.

 

In the $10,500 Class A Pace, Darbie's Ideal ($2.50) found the front end to be the 'ideal' place to be and made every pole in winning one as he was victorious over Gallery Opening (Kevin Cummings) by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:55.4. Loaded Deck (McDonough) took the show position.

 

After a skirmish with Major Authority and Gallery Opening, Darbie's Ideal (Ray Fisher Jr.) finally took control by hitting the opening panel in :28.3. The rest of the race boiled down to see if anyone could gun down Darbie's Ideal but the remaining seven entrants came up shooting blanks.

 

Owned by the Swift Racing Stable and trained by Ryan Swift, Darbie's Ideal is a 4-year-old horse who has posted three victories in 12 attempts in 2021. His bankroll increased to $19,665 on the year and $76,497 lifetime.

 

The season ending awards for the 2021 campaign were announced at Buffalo Raceway during the finale.

 

Morrill Jr., who had a double on the night, was the 'Driver Of The Meet' as he won 88 races while Gerry Sarama was the Trainer Of The Meet' as he collected 63 victories. It was the first training title for Sarama at Buffalo Raceway.

 

The 'Pacer Of The Meet' went to R J P, 'Trotter Of The Meet' was Southern Palms while Protect Blue Chip claimed  'Mare Of The Meet' honors.

 

Racing is expected to resume in January, 2022.

 

For more information including the latest news, race replays, entries and results, go to www.buffaloraceway.com