K Ryan Bluechip kicked strongly in the final half mile to win the Saturday, Dec. 8 feature at the Meadowlands – an $18,500 conditioned pace – for a second straight week.
Driver Brett Miller was in no hurry early with the Virgil Morgan Jr. trainee, sitting last in the field of seven past the quarter- and half-mile markers. Pacesetter Bell I No was being pressured on the front, setting the stage for an off-the-pace winner.
K Ryan Bluechip, a six-year-old gelded son of Art Major-Fool That I Am, made his move after the lead with three-eighths to go. Using a quick burst of speed, he slid to race third over around the far turn and past three-quarters. But instead of opting to stay in the fast lane, K Ryan Bluechip swung three wide for the drive to the wire. He sprinted home in :26.3 to record a three-quarter length win in 1:50.1. Bell I No and Clouseau Hanover - who had plenty of late pace - finished in a dead heat for second.
The winner, who is owned by Carl Howard and Brian Witt, returned $6.00 to his backers, and now has seven victories in 31 starts this year. Lifetime, he’s won 30-of-97 and banked just over $378,000.
PICK-5 TURNAROUND: After Friday night’s 50-Cent Pick 5 paid $60.15 as favourites won every leg of the wager, things went much differently Saturday evening.
In the third race on the program (leg one of the Pic -5), Too Much Hanover and driver Vinny Ginsburg scored at odds of 29-1, paying more to win ($61.00) than the Pick 5 returned on Friday.
After the next four winners in the sequence were sent off at "useable" odds of 8-1, 3-5, 6-5 and 2-1, the Saturday Pick 5 returned $21,640.30.
A LITTLE MORE: In addition to getting the Pick 5 off to a good start, Ginsburg also had a big hand in the Early Daily Double ($194.80), scoring with 14-1 chance Rock Star in the opener.
Andy McCarthy made three winner’s circle visits, raising his meet-leading dash-win total to 30.
All-source handle totaled $1,943,975 for the 11-race program.
Racing resumes Thursday, Dec. 13 at 7:15 p.m. Live action will be conducted on a Thursday-Saturday basis at the Big M during December, with one exception. There will be no live racing on Saturday, Dec. 15 with the New York Jets hosting the Houston Texans at MetLife Stadium. Kickoff is 4:30 p.m.
(With files from the Meadowlands)