The Meadowlands is historically known as a track where favourites can be vulnerable, the result of its mile circumference, competitive fast-paced racing and big 10-horse fields, but lately, even those who love it when bombs drop near the Jersey swamp must be a little surprised at how prolific these horses have been of late.

The last three race cards at The Big M (Jan. 18, Jan. 24 and Jan. 25) have produced a big handful of eye-popping results. The list of horses paying $50 or more over that span follows.

Saturday, Jan. 18:

• Race 1, Captain Marvel, 36-1 odds, paying $74.60 to win
• Race 6, Genius Man, 74-1, $150.60
• Race 11, Lava Field, 46-1, $95.60
• In addition, 82-1 shot Spirit Of Truth won race two, but returned $42.60 after being part of the first triple dead heat in track history

Friday, Jan. 24:

• Race 1, Heartlandbanysbro, 76-1, $154.40
• Race 2, Rockinwiththebest, 27-1, $57.40 (Daily Double paid $4,637.40)
• Race 5, Second Bruiser, 44-1, $90.20
• Race 7, Corsini A, 55-1, $112.80

Saturday, Jan. 25:

• Race 9, Sling Shock, 72-1, $146.40
• Race 12, Spirit Of Truth, 56-1, $115.40

That 42-race span resulted in nine winners paying more than $50 (21 per cent) and five that returned more than $100 (12 per cent). Ironically, chalk players weren’t left out in the cold, as favourites still managed to win 18 times, a track-typical 43 per cent. Over the span, the average win price was a hefty $31.83.

“We tend to have our share of big-priced winners,” commented Jason Settlemoir, Meadowlands Chief Operating Officer and General Manager. “It’s not very often we go through a streak like this, but when we do, it creates a lot of excitement for our fan base. And on Friday, the longshot winners created a big carryover. Something our fans always go for in a big way.”

Friday’s fireworks festival led to a carryover of $28,744, which motivated bettors to pour an astonishing $183,943 of “new money” into the 20-cent Pick-5 pool for a grand total of $212,687.

Unlike the Friday night sequence that created the carryover, winners' odds on Saturday were a more reasonable 6-1, 17-1, 3-2, 13-1 and 1-5. There were 66 winning tickets exchanged for $2,787.26 after the Ron Burke-trained, Yannick Gingras-driven Antognoni S scored as the heavy public choice in the payoff leg (race five), ending what turned out to be a de facto Pick-4 for those who singled the 1-5 public choice.

There were no winning tickets sold on the 20-cent Pick-6 last Saturday, creating a carryover of $5,153 for when racing resumes on Friday. The Pick-6 is offered on races eight through 13. The Meadowlands offers free program pages for every race on its website at playmeadowlands.com.

During the months of January and February, live racing will be conducted every Friday and Saturday with a first-race post time of 6:20 p.m. The live “Racing from The Meadowlands” pre-game show begins at 5:45 p.m. 

There is a new face joining the Big M TV team as Joe Romanelli will handle interviews from the back paddock beginning Friday night. Recently, Romanelli, 25, served as the track announcer at Freehold Raceway and brings an energetic love of the sport as he embarks on his new position. Before the start of the program, Romanelli will be introduced to the simulcast viewers in an interview with Dave Little on set at approximately 5:50 p.m.

One of The Meadowlands’ more popular promotions is the Chili Cook-Off, and the winter edition of the tasty treat takes place on Saturday, Feb. 1. There will be prizes for Homestyle Chili, Red Chili, People’s Choice Chili, Best Booth and Salsa.

(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)