By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – For someone who
started out working for her trainer dad as a teenager, good things have
certainly come fast and furiously ever since for Jessica Otten.
The 25-year-old Otten, who is the
national face of harness racing having just completed covering the Breeders
Crown at Woodbine Mohawk Park for Fox Sports 2, took on another big gig at The
Meadowlands Friday night, sitting alongside Dave Little as one-half of the new
TV team on the track’s nightly simulcast presentation.
“I was actually really nervous to sit
in this chair,” said Otten. “Nervous for what people would say or think,
because I don’t want people to think I am here to replace Dave Brower [who
passed away unexpectedly last month]. Because there is no replacing Dave
Brower.
“I still have my marketing and social
media responsibilities at the track, so sitting on set, looking over the
program every night will be more work. I’ll also be handling the scheduling and
formats and getting people where they need to be when they need to be there, so
it’s going to be a challenge. I put in a lot of hours here, so there will be a
lot of adjusting. I’m a perfectionist, and there were things – both big and
small – Brower did that we took for granted. We want to continue to do those
things well, while I make some subtle changes to the TV show and the way we do
things. I am looking forward to the challenges ahead of me.”
Otten got off to a good start in the
co-host chair, tabbing Thndrfrmthethron N ($9.00) in the first race and
Svengali ($5.00) in the second for the daily double ($28.40). Otten made it
three winners from her first four races in the hot seat when she had Whimsical
Journey ($10.60) in the fourth and finished off the evening with five winners
when Hughie Junior N ($13.20) took the 10th and Romantic Warrior
($3.40) the 13th.
“We are still hurting from Dave
Brower’s passing,” said Big M Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason
Settlemoir. “But all of us here at The Meadowlands are happy moving forward
that we will have Jessica down on the set every night. Her expertise as a
horseman and handicapper will be a great addition to the team.”
A LITTLE MORE: Todd McCarthy and Corey Callahan led
the driver colony with three winners apiece. … Vinny Ginsburg recorded his
first-ever Meadowlands win as a trainer when You Beda Rock scored at odds of
38-1 with Ginsburg in the bike in the fifth race to cap a 20-cent Pick-5 that
came back $1,730.92 despite none of the other four winners going at off odds of
4-1 or less. … All-source wagering totaled $2,451,530. … Racing resumes
Saturday at 6:20 p.m.
