Yannick Gingras was the star of the night at the Meadowlands Racetrack on Friday (Feb. 21), as he guided five winners on the card, including Dayson, who won the featured high-end conditioned trot in 1:52.3.

The seven-year-old gelded son of Conway Hall-Nerveys Taurus emerged from a first-turn scrum in perfect position, racing in the pocket behind the speedy Nows The Moment, who was on the point to the head of the stretch despite being pressed around the far turn by Kenziesky Hanover.

Through the lane, Nows The Moment weakened, and as he did he bore out, creating more than enough room for Dayson to cruise under the wire first racing along the inside. It was a half-length back to 8-5 favourite Eye Ofa Tiger As. Elysium Lindy, who won this race a week ago, was trip compromised when pushed wide around turn one and raced from the back of the field before charging home to get third. Nows The Moment was fourth.

“He raced great,” said Gingras of Dayson. “He’s such a game horse and tries hard.”

Dayson, who returned $8.20 to his backers as the second choice in the wagering, races out of the Ron Burke barn and is owned by Burke Racing Stable & Weaver Bruscemi, J&T Silva Purnel & Libby, and Lawrence Karr. He now has 38 victories from 89 lifetime outings, good for earnings of $1,181,127.

Burke had a huge night, winning four races. He hooked up three times with his go-to pilot Gingras.

PICK-6 REPORT: A total of $76,682 in “new money” was added to the carryover of $14,376 in the 20-cent Pick-6, meaning that players were betting into a rare “player’s advantage” pool. A total of $79,555 was paid out, almost $3,000 more than was pushed through the windows.

There were many winning tickets in the Pick-6, as the payoff of $238.98 was the result of a sequence that saw winners' odds of 7-2, 1-1, 5-2, 5-2, 6-5 and 6-5.

The action was big in all four of the Big M’s multi-leg wagers, as a total of $290,158 was wagered in the 20-cent Pick-5, 20-cent Pick-6 and two 50-cent Pick-4 pools. The Late Pick-4 took in $75,592, by far its best showing in five tries since debuting earlier this month.

A LITTLE MORE: The Nancy Takter-trained JK American Beauty, who now has lifetime earnings of $422,790, made her four-year-old debut a winning one, taking the fifth race high-end conditioned pace for fillies and mares in a lifetime-best 1:50.2 with Gingras driving. … All-source handle totaled $2,689,916 on the 13-race program, the best Friday night thus far in 2020 and third-best overall. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:55 p.m.

(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)