Ahundreddollarbill flaunted his back class on the way to an easy win in the Friday night (Dec. 2) feature at The Meadowlands, a high-end conditioned trot that went for a purse of $23,000.
“Tonight, he really wanted to go,” said winning driver Yannick Gingras. “He didn’t really relax as I wanted him to, but he got the job done anyway.”
The Tony Alagna trainee, as Gingras explained, was revved up early and made the top while parked past the quarter in :27.4. There was little in the way of trouble from there, as no opponent got any closer than 1-3/4 lengths at the ensuing calls, except for the finish, when Ahundreddollarbill was coasting home under the wire, an extremely safe three-quarter-length winner in 1:52.2. Dees Red Delicous was second with Call Me Dani third.
“I had to ask him a little bit [in the stretch],” said Gingras. “But he knows how to get it done.”
A season ago, the now four-year-old son of Chapter Seven-Swinging Royalty won the Canadian Trotting Classic during a 2021 that saw him earn $697,535. After his Friday win, he now has 13 victories from 34 career outings, good for earnings of $864,792.
As the 1-5 favourite, he returned $2.40 to win.
Steve Smith is known to Meadowlands regulars as a driver who may not win often, but when he does, the rewards are great.
Such was the case on Friday, when the 61-year-old pilot scored in the second race with 20-1 shot Love Me Some Lou before striking again with 49-1 chance Amador in the 10th. Both horses were positively airborne during their respective stretch drives. Bumping up in class after winning at 37-1 two weeks ago, Amador upped his winning streak to three.
Gingras finished on top of the driver colony with four winners on the card. … Team Bongiorno – brother-driver Joe and sister-trainer Jenn – won twice. … Dexter Dunn had a driving double. … The 20-cent Pick-6 saw $14,275 in “new money” added to the $2,600 carryover, for a grand total of $16,876. Those who had all six correct walked away with $1,554.24. … All-source handle totalled $2,611,294. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.
(Meadowlands Racetrack)