Wagering reached the magic $3 million mark for the first time at the meeting and the team of trainer Ron Burke and driver Yannick Gingras combined to win an incredible six races on Saturday night (Feb. 2) at the Meadowlands.
Twice during the course of the 13-race program, which saw all-source play total $3,147,209, single-race total wagering was in excess of $300,000. The Big M’s signature 50-cent Pick-4 saw its biggest pool of the year as $110,700 was pushed through the windows for the wager which spans races eight through 11. The sequence saw Burke and Gingras win twice, but when the dust cleared, no winning favourites scored, leading to a payoff of $1,083.80.
It was almost inconceivable that Burke and Gingras would top their five-win Friday night, but they did just that, scoring a half-dozen times on the Saturday program, good for a total of 11 victories over the course of the 26-race, two-card race week. Gingras won twice without Burke on Friday to tally a total of 13 times over the two cards.
Saturday’s edition of “Yannick and Ronnie’s Awesome Night at the Races” started with a sweep of the Early Daily Double, as Try Try Again – making his first start for the Burke Brigade – scored from post nine in 1:55.1 in a non-winners of $5,000 trot as the 2-5 favourite. Approximately 20 minutes later, K Lees Shakenbake won a $15,000 up to $20,000 claiming handicap pace in 1:51.3 as the 4-5 public choice, capping the $6.20 double.
Try Try Again was one of six winners for trainer Ron Burke and driver Yannick Gingras on Saturday at The Meadowlands.
Race six saw the dynamic duo win for the third time on the card with even-money choice Windsong Jack in 1:51.2 in a non-winners of $8,500 pace before the potent pair thrilled their backers with a pair of prices.
Fireball took the ninth-race non-winners of $8,500 pace in 1:52.2 at odds of 9-2 before 3-1 chance Ginger Tree Marty won race 10, a non-winners of $5,000 pace, in 1:52 to complete a double that returned $72.40.
Larry Karr completed the sextet in race 12 as the 2-5 choice in a non-winners of four pace. The four-year-old gelding went a tough uncovered trip to win for the fourth time in five starts.
A LITTLE MORE: One simulcast player wagering into the Twin Spires hub was the only bettor to last eight legs in the 20-Cent Survivor Pick-10 and cashed in for $11,542.44. Racing resumes Friday at 7:15 p.m.
(Meadowlands)