The Meadowlands' faithful was out in force with Christmas money in hand Saturday night, and at the conclusion of the 15-race card, all-source wagering topped the $3-million mark for the first time during the Fall Meeting on the last day of racing in 2020.
Handle for the night totaled $3,718,250, an average per race of $247,883. The last time–other than Hambletonian Day and Meadowlands Pace Night–that business was as brisk on a per-race basis was on July 11 (Meadowlands Pace Eliminations Night) when a total of $3,440,248 was bet over 13 races, an average of $264,634 per dash.
Things got rolling in the fifth race Saturday, when a night-best $366,063 was pushed through the windows with $117,910 in exacta action leading the way. Minutes later, $85,859 in 50-cent Pick-4 plays keyed total betting in Race 6 to $353,837. Race 8–which saw an exacta pool of $98,671–was the third $300,000 or better race of the night, with total action of $302,405.
ON THE TRACK: Warrior One took the $19,000 high-end conditioned trotting co-feature for trainer Ron Burke and driver Yannick Gingras in 1:52.3.
The four-year-old gelded son of Father Patrick-Yoga was on the go from the start, making the lead out of the first turn from post eight before yielding to Hill Of A Horse just after the quarter. Gingras moved his horse back to the top before the half and went down the road from there, recording an easy three-length score over Cue Hall. Hill Of A Horse was third.
Sent to the gate as the 5-2 favourite, Warrior One returned $7.40 to his backers in winning for the 13th time in 52 lifetime starts. He now has earnings of $221,146.
In the co-featured high-end conditioned pace, Harambe Deo got back into the win column for trainer Jeff Cullipher and driver Simon Allard. Racing in a softer spot than he had in his previous three outings, the five-year-old gelded son of Woodstock-Tea Time held off the late-charging Bracken Storm A by a nose in 1:49.3. J M Mandamin was third.
Harambe Deo was away well from post 9 and made his way to the top at the half in a pulse-pounding :54.1 on the chilly evening that saw a wind chill of 19 degrees. He used a :27.2 third fraction to open a two-length lead on the pocket-sitting Heza Real Diamond before holding off Bracken Storm A – who might have won had he found room just a moment or two earlier in deep stretch when in bad traffic – by an eyelash.
As the 5-1 fourth choice, Harambe Deo returned $13.20 to win in scoring his 17th win from 85 starts. His earnings stand at $263,369.
$150,000 GUARANTEED: After longshots scored in the third, fourth and fifth races, the track’s 20-cent Pick-5 wager did not yield a winning ticket, setting up what could be a gigantic pool when racing resumes on Saturday, Jan. 2.
Those who correctly selected four winners cashed in for $312.78.
The bet started innocently enough as the 9-5 second choice and 2-1 favorite won the first two races, respectively, on the card. But then the bombs fell as 14-1, 50-1 and 36-1 outsiders took the final three legs of the sequence, leading to a carryover of $46,731.16.
As a result, Big M management–in conjunction with the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering initiative–has guaranteed next Saturday’s pool at $150,000.
Free past performances will be available for the Pick-5 at playmeadowlands.com.
A LITTLE MORE: Cullipher was on fire all night long, winning four races on the night. Dave Miller led the driver’s colony with four victories, three coming with Cullipher trainees.
There will be no racing at The Big M on Friday, Jan. 1.
Racing resumes Saturday (Jan. 2), with a first-race post time of 6 p.m. (EST).
(The Meadowlands)