Warrior One started the year like a house on fire, scoring in seven of his first nine starts for trainer Ron Burke before going winless in his next seven outings.

So much for the losing streak.

The four-year-old gelded son of Father Patrick-Yoga, the only wire-to-wire winner on the card, made his fifth 2020 visit to the Meadowlands winner’s circle in the featured high-end conditioned trot on Friday night (November 6) after stopping the clock in an eye-popping 1:51.4 to lower his previous lifetime best by a full second.

Driver Andy Miller had designs on the top and guided Warrior One directly to the lead, hitting the quarter in :26.3. A rated second fraction of :28.3 followed as Trolley, using trotting hopples for the second time, came first-over as they approached the far turn.

But Miller hit the gas pedal again as Trolley, the 3-1 second choice, struggled on the far turn. Warrior One was still going well on the point after rating the middle half in :57.2 before opening up a 2-1/4-length edge at the head of the stretch on the pocket-sitting 7-5 favourite, HL Revadon.

Warrior One then finished the job by sprinting home in :27.4 to hit the wire three lengths in front of HL Revadon, who was no match. Eye Ofa Tiger As was third. Trolley faded to fifth in the seven-horse field.

Owned by Frank Canzone and Yannick Gingras, Warrior One returned $15.60 as the fourth choice in the wagering in winning for the eighth time this year from 17 starts. Lifetime, he has 12 victories from 47 tries and earnings of $202,446.

A LITTLE MORE: A two-day 20-cent Pick-6 carryover of $13,394 led to a total pool of over $51,000, and after a sequence that saw winner’s odds of 2-1, 7-2, 6-1, 6-1, 9-2 and 2-1, the payoff was a handsome $23,020.24. … The 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 made its return to The Big M betting menu. One lucky player wagering into the Oregon Express hub had the only ticket with all seven winners and cashed in for $3,118.82. … Anette Lorentzon recorded a training double while drivers Vinny Ginsburg and George Napolitano Jr. each won twice to pace the driver’s colony. … All-source handle totaled $1,961,021. … Racing resumes Saturday at 7:15 p.m. with four Kindergarten Classic Finals – worth over $800,000 in total purses – sitting atop the marquee.

(Meadowlands Racetrack)