A new post time of 6:55 p.m. and new betting choices highlighted the action at the Meadowlands Friday night, and despite no horse paying off at double-digit odds through the first nine races, the payoffs for the 20-cent Pick-5, 20-cent Pick-6 and Early 50-cent Pick-4 were all extremely attractive.

The Pick-5, which saw its base bet decrease from 50 cents, saw a typical pool of $55,082, which is more than double the wager’s $25,000 guarantee. But with bettors “spreading” their tickets further, the resulting payoff of $1,335.10 was superb given that the odds of the winners during the sequence were 4-1, 9-2, 3-2, 8-5 and 6-1. The horses in the third and fourth legs were the post-time favourites.

The Pick-6, which will no doubt offer attractive carryovers on occasion in the coming weeks, paid off on six-for-six to the tune of $3,056.56. All the winners were 6-1 or less – with one exception – as Muscle Fashion won the seventh race, paying $20.80 to win.

The Big M’s “signature” wager – the Early 50-cent Pick-4 – now begins in race six, and after Say You Do sat a perfect pocket trip to surge past Rubber Duck to win at 5-1 in the payoff leg, those who hit cashed in for $758.90. The key to hitting was Leg One, when players included 4-1 shot Resita, who upset 2-5 favourite Max.

The Late 50-cent Pick-4 also yielded a solid payout despite favourites winning the last two legs. A 16-1 shot started the sequence followed by a 6-1 leading to another four-figure payoff, at $1,130.90.

(Meadowlands)