Live racing will return to the Meadowlands Racetrack on Friday (January 19) with another action-filled 14-race card.

The featured dash of the evening is Race 7, a ten-horse conditioned trot that carries a purse of $15,000. Chief among the competitors is a duo that has recently competed at the Preferred level that will now realize a bit of class relief, and another that is rising through the ranks.

Opulent Yankee (PP #9) has toiled at the top level for the past several seasons for ‘Team Miller’ (trainer Julie and driver Andy) and owners Little E, LLC, Dave Stolz and Art Geiger. The now seven-year-old always gives an honest effort and has been a virtual ATM, as he has ground out a series of six-figure-earning seasons on their behalf.

Iron Mine Bucky, who danced the big dances as a sophomore and is transitioning nicely to the open ranks at age five, has drawn the far outside Post 10 for Friday's race. Trainer Greg Haverstick has tabbed Eric Carlson with the task of mapping out a trip from that starting point for owners Iron Mine Branch, LLC.

PL Ichabod has been in career form for trainer Tony Alagna and owner Jennifer Dalton, as he has hit the board in all of his visible past performance lines, including a win against softer foes last week. He has retained driver Brett Miller from Post 7 for the race.

All of the usual guaranteed wagers are in place, and the last-race Jackpot Hi-5 carryover is flirting with $70,000. In an attempt to counter the effects of the deep freeze being felt in the northeast, it is also American BBQ Buffet night in Pink where you can make believe it's July for roughly thirty dollars.

Post time for the card is 6:35 p.m.

‘BIG M’ THE PLACE TO BET MULTI-RACE

While wagering in general remained strong at the Meadowlands last weekend (January 12-13), players were especially fired up when it came time to play the track’s popular Pick 4 and Pick 5 wagers.

The Friday Pick 5 had a pool that swelled to $253,772, with interest in the wager piqued due to a $28,786 carryover from the prior race card. The five-bagger has a 50-cent base bet and a low takeout of 15 per cent (which the carryover is not subject to). The Pick 5 saw three winning favourites, but the payoff was still a handsome $2,820.

The next night saw the bettors pour $45,432 into the Pick 5 pool, and those who had a winning ticket cashed $9,653, as only one post-time public choice visited the winner’s circle.

“We are extremely happy with our multi-race wagers,” said track chief operating officer and general manager Jason Settlemoir. “The Pick 4 pools have exploded, averaging over $80,000 the last two weekends, compared to $64,000 the previous four Fridays and Saturdays. Of course, we were thrilled with our Friday Pick 5 carryover. The players response to these low takeout wagers has been enthusiastic, to say the least.”

While not a multi-race bet, there figures to be plenty of interest in the Late 20-Cent Jackpot Super High Five when racing resumes Friday night. That wager, which requires one to be a single-ticket holder of the top five finishers in the evening’s last race, sports a carryover of $68,553.

Some other wagering notes from last weekend:

• The Early Daily Double pools averaged over $33,500

• Friday night’s fourth race saw an exacta pool of $87,142 and a trifecta of $60,214

• Total wagering over the weekend was $5.25 million, or better than $2.6 million per night

EARLY POST TIME EXTENDED: The winter post time of 6:35 p.m. has been extended. The 40-minutes-earlier-than-usual starting time will now continue until Saturday, March 17. Post time will change to 7:15 p.m. on Friday, March 23. Harness racing continues at the Meadowlands on Fridays and Saturdays through Saturday, August 4.

(With files from the Meadowlands Racetrack)