‘Big M’ To Help Showcase Vernon Stakes
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During the course of the live program at the Meadowlands Racetrack this Friday night (May 18), the five eliminations for the $500,000 Empire Breeders Classic for both male and female three-year-old trotters at Vernon Downs will be shown live on the ‘Big M’ feed, weaved in between Meadowlands events.
“Many top trotters will be racing, including a pair of top fillies; one being Plunge Blue Chip, who went nine-for-10 last year and won the Goldsmith Maid; another is Atlanta, who won last week at the Meadowlands, beating older males and females in 1:52,” said Jason Settlemoir, the Meadowlands’ chief operating officer and general manager who also serves as Vernon’s regional vice-president, racing and simulcast.
The first EBC elimination is set to be shown at 7:34 p.m., soon after the first Meadowlands race replay is concluded. Thereafter, the elims will be shown after each Meadowlands replay of Races 2 through 5.
The Empire Breeders Classic finals are set for Memorial Day, Monday, May 28 at Vernon Downs.
Free program pages for Vernon’s all-EBC Pick-4 (Races 6 through 9, guaranteed pool of $2,500) as well as the Meadowlands’ Pick-4 (Races 7 through 10, guaranteed $50,000), courtesy of Track Master, are available on the handicapping section at ustrotting.com.
The Meadowlands’ live racing programs this Friday and Saturday will get underway at 7:15 p.m.
SUPER CARRYOVER: Harness racing’s biggest pot of gold will be up for grabs in the Friday finale at the Big M, as the carryover for the Late 20-Cent Jackpot Super High-Five has now grown to $221,892… Meadowlands chairman Jeff Gural will answer questions about the recent green light for sports betting on Friday night’s ‘Racing from the Meadowlands’ pre-race show at 6:45 p.m.
PREAKNESS DAY: Come on out to the Meadowlands Saturday and see if the Bob Baffert-trained Justify can take the second jewel of Thoroughbred Racing’s Triple Crown when he tries his luck at a mile and 3/16ths in the 143rd running of the Preakness at Pimlico. Gates at the Big M will open at 9:30 a.m. The first race at Pimlico is slated for 10:30 a.m. while post time for the Preakness is 6:48 p.m.
(Meadowlands Racetrack)