Outside The Fire had maintained good form over an eight-race stretch dating back to late November of last year, and with a drop in class Friday, March 14, he had little trouble taking the featured $21,429 conditioned trot in 1:52.4 at The Meadowlands.

In the early going, Bully Boy Hill, bumping up in class seeking a third straight win, was on the point for driver Scott Zeron, and led at the quarter in :27.2 and the half in :56. Outside The Fire, the 4-5 favourite, vacated the three-hole at the five-eighths mark and quickly made up ground while racing uncovered on the rim, and just after Bully Boy Hill hit three-quarters in 1:24.3, moved to the lead as they straightened up with three-sixteenths remaining.

“He’s been sharp,” said Tyler Buter, who guided Outside The Fire to his third win in his last seven tries. “Last week, he got a bad trip. Tonight, it worked out well. I saw Scott [Zeron] had a handful there with Bully Boy Hill, [so I took back before] we took over.”

Through the stretch, Outside The Fire effortlessly maintained the lead, and despite providing perfect cover for Dribbling Bi, that one was no match for the winner, finishing three-quarters of a length back in second with Brett Beckwith aboard. Seven Sins and Dave Miller were third.

When asked if he was concerned that Dribbling Bi was right behind him, Buter said, “You never know until it’s over here [at The Meadowlands]. But he raced well.”

Outside The Fire, a six-year-old gelded son of Cantab Hall-Light The Flame who is trained by Jeff Cullipher and owned by Pollack Racing, returned $3.60 to his backers. He’s now won 23 of 80 lifetime starts, good for earnings of $386,944. 

The only horse not covered in the 20-cent Pick-6 heading into the payoff leg (race 13) was Somesurfsomewhere, and after he pulled off a 48-1 upset, that created a carryover of $3,795 for Saturday night’s card. Those with five correct selections cashed in for $13.60. The Pick-6 is offered nightly on races eight through 13 and free program pages for every Meadowlands card are available by going to playmeadowlands.com.

Sean Loebs was the winner of the third installment of the 2025 Meadowlands Monthly Handicapping Contest. Loebs won the competition, which offered $1,000 USD in prize money, by finishing the night with a bankroll of $640.80. By winning, he earned a berth in the $10,000 USD contest that will take place in December.

Dave Miller and Scott Zeron led the driver colony with two wins apiece while Bruce Saunders led the trainers with a pair of victories. 

All-source betting on the 14-race card totalled $2,527,817 USD.

Racing resumes at The Meadowlands on Saturday at 6:20 p.m.

(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)