One week after explaining after a win in a post-race interview that Maximus Miki loves to race first-over, driver Andy McCarthy changed tactics nonetheless on Saturday night (April 27) at The Meadowlands.

And the result was unchanged, as the five-year-old gelded son of Always B Miki-Beach Gal took the featured $37,671 Winners Over Pace for a second consecutive week.

After getting away third around the first turn, McCarthy moved ‘Miki’ quickly and secured the lead down the backstretch, taking the point away from Southwind Gendry soon after the quarter, which was timed in :27.

With the 1-2 favourite setting up shop on the lead in a six-horse field, Maximus Miki raced unpressured, reached the half in :55 and three-quarters in 1:23, setting up a sprint to the wire that saw the Tom Cancelliere trainee prevail by a 1-1/4 lengths over American Dealer N. Southwind Gendry finished third.

“He was super,” said McCarthy. “Tommy’s been doing a great job with him. It’s the first time I put him on the front but he got it done. He really enjoys having a target. When you put him up there [on the lead], you have to keep after him a bit.”

Maximus Miki’s clocking of 1:49.1 was a lifetime best and equalled the fastest mile of the year at The Big M. Red Right Hand was the first to go that fast on March 30.

Maximus Miki returned $3 to his backers after winning for the 16th time from just 32 lifetime starts, good for earnings of $217,725 for owner John Cancelliere.

Huntinthelastdolar went wire-to-wire from the rail to take the $43,151 Four-Year-Old Open in 1:50. The gelded son of Huntsville-Eighthunrdolarbill sprinted his final quarter in :25.1 to win for ninth time from 25 lifetime starts, lifting his earnings past the $530,000 mark.

The Per Engblom trainee had plenty of gas left in the tank after a rated middle half of :57.1.

“I had the fractions on my side,” said winning driver Yannick Gingras. “The horse is really nice. He can go fast.”

There were four $41,096 New Jersey Breeders Maturity finals for four-year-olds contested during the night, with the first three conducted as non-betting events before the pari-mutuel card.

In the mares trot, Tactical Mounds (Tactical Landing-Mounds) won a walkover (a one-horse race) in 1:55.2 for driver Scott Zeron and trainer Megan Scran.

Bestfriend Volo (Walner-Bank Of Newport) took the horse and gelding trot in 1:51.3 for Dexter Dunn and Nancy Takter before Lisa Lane (Lazarus N-Special Kay Deo) hit the winner’s circle in the mare pace in 1:51.1 for Patrick Ryder and Chris Ryder.

On the betting card, 2023 New Jersey Classic winner Voukefalas (Lazarus N-Inittowinafortune) emerged victorious as the 2-5 favourite in the horse and gelding pace, gunning down leader Handlelikeaporsche at the wire in 1:50.4 after an explosive final quarter of :25 for Jordan Stratton and Michael Russo.

Dunn, Dave Miller, Gingras and McCarthy tied for the top of the nightly driver leaderboard with two winners apiece. Engblom led the trainers with a pair of victories.

It was a big night for followers of Dave Little, as the veteran member of the Big M’s TV crew selected eight winners on top, including his best bet and value play. In addition, Little pegged the Late Pick-4 and had the winning payout of $80.95 five times to cash in for $404.75. On race later, “Little’s Late Double” rolled in, paying $85.40, but Little played a $6 ticket, creating a return of $256.20.

All-source handle totalled $3,012,800 USD on the 14-race card, marking the 27th time from 33 programs that wagering has gone past the $3 million USD mark this year.

Racing resumes on Friday, May 3 at 6:20 p.m.

(Meadowlands Racetrack)