By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Thanks to a
pair of longshots, there were no winning tickets sold in the 20-cent Pick-5
Friday night at The Meadowlands, creating a carryover of $43,342 for Saturday
night’s card.
The Pick-5 gets underway in the first
race, which has a post time of 6:20 p.m., and free past performances for the
Pick-5 – and all Meadowlands races for every card – are available at playmeadowlands.com.
The Cote Keim driven, trained and
owned Topville Cruiser went a long way toward creating the carryover, as the 39-year-old
horseman recorded his first career driving win in one of three GSY Amateur Club
races on the card. Topville Cruiser led at every call to record the victory at
odds of 60-1 in the third race.
Make It Big secured the carryover by
scoring in the very next dash at odds of 25-1 for driver Mark MacDonald and
trainer Terry Morgan.
Those with four winners on their
tickets collected $583.02.
If $100,000 in “new money” is wagered
on Saturday’s Pick-5, that would create a significant “negative takeout”.
The $100,000 would be subject to the
low 15 percent “rake”, leaving $85,000. When you add that to the carryover,
that would create a total pool of $128,342, a “surplus” of over $28,000
returned to those with winning tickets since the carryover is not subject to
the takeout.
MISS YOU N TAKES FEATURE: Missing for three months didn’t
bother the winner of Friday’s high-end $27,500 conditioned pacing feature for
fillies and mares as the Virgil Morgan Jr.-trained Miss You N scored from off
the pace in 1:52.
Off a sparkling qualifier at The Big
M when she won in 1:52 in wire-to-wire fashion, Miss You N’s driver wasn’t
necessarily going to put the 8-year-old daughter of Betterthancheddar-Woman In
Black on the point.
“I didn’t really have a plan,” said
Dexter Dunn. “But I was a little worried given how slow the fractions were up
front.”
Miss You N raced fifth in the early
going in the seven-horse field, as The Bethinator took the field past the half
in a dawdling :58.
Nearing the five-eighths, Todd
McCarthy moved 3-1 second choice Bettors Heart N out of the four-hole, which
provided a live tow for the eventual winner. Bettors Heart N was up to
challenge the leader out of the far turn, and in mid-stretch, Dunn tipped Miss
You N off her cover, and went on to prevail getting up by a nose in a driving
finish over a resilient Bettors Heart N. The Bethinator held third.
“I thought I was going to get past
her a little easier,” said Dunn. “I wasn’t so sure I had it. You never know,
but it was a good finish.”
Maybe so, but it was plenty
nerve-racking on the bettors, who bet the favorite down to 4-5, as she returned
$3.60 to win while chalking up her 33rd career score from 88 starts.
She’s now earned $488,975 for owners Carl Howard and Bottom Line Racing.
Miss You N’s last parimutuel start
came on Dec. 10 of last year in the Open for filly and mare pacers at Dayton.
Her last win was at Dayton on Oct. 22.
A LITTLE MORE: Handle was once again vigorous as
all-source action totaled $3,155,483, the third time in four cards betting
busted the $3-million barrier. … Yannick Gingras kept his streak alive of
winning at least once on all 16 Big M programs in 2022 after recording a
driving double. Dunn also guided a pair to victory lane. … Per Engblom trained
a pair of winner’s circle visitors. … With horses winning at odds of 60-1, 25-1
and 7-1 to start the 20-cent Survivor Pick-7, those with those three winners on
their tickets collected $3,320 after going just three-for-seven. … Racing
resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.
