On a cold and rainy night at The Meadowlands, Tim Tetrick and Yannick Gingras ran the show.
Tetrick was the early star on Friday night winning three of the first four races and four of the first six, but he passed the baton to Gingras, who would go on to win three in a row in races nine through 11, totaling four on the card himself.
The Bionic Man guided Super Bowl hopeful Propulsion to a romp in the opener, a non-winners of two trot, scoring as the 1-9 favourite in 1:55.1 for trainer Tony Alagna. Propulsion was a 1:52.3 winner this fall at Lexington, was freshened up for the winter and appears to be a name we will come to know well at The Meadowlands this winter. Propulsion is owned by Brittany Farms, Katz, Libfeld, Goldband, Sbrocco and Little E LLC.
Tetrick also guided Witch Dali to an impressive 1:53.1 score in a non-winners of twp pace for fillies, despite making her first start in 13 months. Tetrick and Alagna swept the early double as Witch Dali parlayed a pocket trip into a decisive score. Witch Dali looks like a nice fit for the upcoming Worldly Beauty Series, which begins on January 9 at The Meadowlands. She paid $4.40 to win and is owned by Alagna Racing LLC and Aaron Waxman.
Yannick Gingras guided Southwind Serenity to a rebound effort in the B-2/B-1 Handicap for three-year-old filly pacers. Backers who forgave last week’s performance were rewarded as the filly returned $12.00 to win, while last week she was a 6-5 betting choice. Southwind Serenity and Gingras took no prisoners, whipping around the track labeled sloppy to win in 1:50.3. The rapid pace of :27, :55 and 1:22.3 seemed to have little effect on the Ron Burke trainee as she kicked home in 28 seconds flat to win handily. The winner is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver, Bruscemi and Collura.
The $22,500 B-1/A-2 Filly and Mare Handicap Pace went to 3-1 shot Set Me Up, who went straight to the lead and never looked back through fractions of :26.4, :56 and 1:24.4 to win in 1:52. It was the second Gingras/Burke winning connection on the card. The win was the eighth on the season for Set Me Up, who went past $100,000 in earnings in the 2014 racing season for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver and Bruscemi.
Upfront Billy gave Brett Miller a win in the B-2/B-1 Handicap Trot. They rallied boldly again, but this time got up rather easily to score in 1:54.1. Miller tracked cover from a position third over through strong fractions, including a :56.2 middle-half mile, angled out and powered home to win at 9-2. Super Manning was second while the classy Mistery Woman, who set the pace as the 4-5 betting choice, faded to third. Upfront Billy is trained and co-owned by Mark Ford for Up Front Racing LLC.
The total handle of $2,273,465 was a six per cent increase from the same Friday in 2013. Handle on harness racing at The Meadowlands has eclipsed $200 million for the second consecutive year.
For the second time in three nights, the Jackpot Super Hi-5 was hit and returned $15,606.68 for the one winning ticket. The pool will start fresh again when racing resumes on Saturday with first post time at 7:15 p.n.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)