Tuxedo Bay proved that he belonged in the Preferred Handicap ranks on Jan. 12 when he finished second to Constntlysidewys A. On Saturday, Jan. 26 in the Meadowlands’ $21,000 weekly pacing feature, he scored some revenge.
Tuxedo Bay does his best racing on or near the front so, over a track that favoured speed, driver Eric Carlson rolled the five-year-old gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere-Spring Break to the top through a :27 quarter while parked. The Mark Silva trainee, sent to the gate as the co-third choice in the wagering at 4-1, continued on the point to the half in :55.3 as Constntlysidewys A, also 4-1, ground his way toward the leader.
K Ryan Bluechip, the 3-2 favourite, got a live tow from Constntlysidewys A and appeared to be in perfect striking position second over but did not fire through the stretch. Tuxedo Bay held off Constntlysidewys A through the lane to record a three-quarter length win in a lifetime-best 1:50.2. Dover Downs-invader Bags To Riches was third with Divas Image fourth and K Ryan Bluechip fifth.
Silva owns the winner, who returned $10.40 to his backers. Tuxedo Bay now has 12 wins in 60 lifetime starts and earnings of $156,518.
A LITTLE MORE: The dynamic duo of trainer Ron Burke and driver Yannick Gingras were at it again, teaming up to win three races for a second straight night to lock Driver and Trainer of the Week honors.
Betting was strong in the 50-Cent Pick-4 as $104,363 was pushed through the windows, reaching six figures for the fourth time in 2019.
In addition to Gingras, Carlson also guided three horses to victory lane.
All-source wagering was vigorous again. A 2019-best $2,891,708 was bet on the 13-race card, meaning that at least $2.5 million in action has been taken on seven of the eight programs contested this year.
Racing resumes Friday, Feb. 1 at 7:15 p.m.
(With files from the Meadowlands)