For the second consecutive week, big payouts were the norm at The Meadowlands on the final Thursday (Dec. 12) night of racing on the 2024 calendar.
The evening got off to a good start when 35-1 shot Allindotime got up by a nose in the first race, keying a $532.60 USD payoff in the Daily Double and a return of $7,936.10 USD in the 20-cent Pick-5.
The good times kept on rolling in the sixth race when winning Early 50-cent Pick-4 tickets were exchanged for $2,696.60, that return bolstered by the Stacy Chiodo-trained and driven I Am The Fire, who scored at 19-1 in the payoff leg.
The 20-cent Pick-6, aided by a carryover of $4,038 USD, saw a little more than $16,000 USD in “new money” poured into the pot, and after a sequence that saw winner’s odds of 7-2, 19-1, 5-2, 3-5, 3-5 and 4-5, with Chiodo’s horse fueling the big-payout fire once again, winning tickets were greeted with a return of $2,548.80 USD.
Trainer Andrew Harris combined with his twin brother, driver J, to win the $22,535 featured conditioned pace for two- and three-year-olds.
Miki Ray (pictured above), a three-year-old gelded son of Always B Miki-Victoria Semalu, came from off the pace to win in a snappy 1:50.3 on a night with a real-feel temperature of 22 degrees as the 3-5 favourite.
“I had a big horse who is a grinder,” said J. “It worked out well. I didn’t have to do much work after I popped off the helmet [in front of me]. I didn’t want to use him too hard, too early.”
“It’s a lot warmer here,” said J, who is from Ontario. “The track here is amazing and my brother had that horse ready to go.”
It was the first-ever win for J at The Big M, who said he may be showing up more often at the mile oval after the New Year.
Johnathan Ahle led the drivers with a pair of wins on the card while all-source betting on the 10-race program totaled $1,033,392 USD.
Racing resumes Friday (Dec. 13) at 6:20 p.m.
(With files from The Meadowlands)