After making two separate moves in the first three-eighths of Saturday (Jan. 16) evening's $25,000 Open Handicap Pace at the Meadowlands Racetrack, Henderson Farms' Bushwacker ($2.80) held sway for his third consecutive top-level win in New Jersey.
Tim Tetrick sent the five-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding forward at race's outset, easing off a trio of other leavers before commencing a brush to the fore after a :26.4 first quarter. Bushwacker forged clear with five-eighths of the mile yet in front of him, taking charge from Dover invader Atta Boy Dan (Yannick Gingras) and subsequently rating a :55.3 middle half. After facing mild first-over pressure from Kingofthejungle (Andy Miller) on the far turn, Bushwacker accelerated clear in mid-stretch. He ultimately prevailed in 1:50 by one and a quarter lengths, holding clear enough of Atta Boy Dan's late rally between rivals. Sweet Beach (Brett Miller) swung four-wide in mid-stretch off his third-over bid to pass tired pressers and stalkers in claiming third honors.
Chris Ryder trains the 15-time winner.
In addition to his win aboard Bushwacker in the feature, Tetrick paired up with five other winners on the night, including True Blue Hall ($8.20, 1:51.4), Moonlight Ransom ($5.60, 1:52.3), Dinner At the Met ($5.00, 1:52.1), Our Dragon King ($4.80, 1:51.3), and Arockin Hanover ($2.20, 1:53.1).
In the evening's sub-featured $16,000 upper-level conditioned pace, Real Nice ($17.80) capitalized on a pocket trip, enjoying clear sailing throughout behind favoured pacesetter Bettor Than You (Gingras) before kicking clear by one and a half lengths for a 1:50.4 triumph. The 11-year-old veteran earned his 53rd career win in rein to Scott Zeron for owners Anthony Scussel and the Lightning 5 Racing Stable and trainer Scott Blackler.
Saturday evening's total handle for the 14-race program was $2,826,048, including $156,822 in the evening's trio of guaranteed-pool horizontal wagers. Since neither 20-cent Jackpot High 5 was hit, Friday (Jan. 22) evening's seventh-race High 5 will boast a $5,915 carryover, while the finale's High 5 will carry $62,725 of added money should one punter take down the entire pool.
(Meadowlands Racetrack)