Friday marked the first-ever Can-Am Pick 4 – a wager where horseplayers must pick the winners of two races at both the Meadowlands and Woodbine Mohawk Park – and the response was vigorous.
A total of $57,489 was poured in the pool and after a sequence that saw winners' odds of 5-2, 6-5, 11-1 and 7-2, the return was a handsome $596.51 for a 20-cent bet.
The new wager will be offered on Friday nights.
The Can-Am Pick 4 consisted of Woodbine Mohawk Park’s 10th race (won by Request For Parole) followed by the Meadowlands’ 10th race (won by You Should Be Here) then Mohawk's 11th (won by Sunday Afternoon) before concluding with Big M's 11th (won by Lauderdale).
Trolley dominated in the Meadowlands' $25,000 Preferred Handicap Trot, which followed. Even Marcus Miller must have been surprised at how easy things went for him and Trolley in the Friday night feature.
In a field where one scratch (Zlatan) left but six starters, Miller urged Trolley from the start, setting sail for the top and leading at the quarter in :28.3. The six-year-old Donato Hanover-Lakeside Bride product continued his sleepwalk to the half in :56.3 as pocket-sitter Rubber Duck and Sutton – who was racing in the three-hole – did not move a muscle.
Trolley trotted his third fraction in :27.3 to remain clear on the engine and after coming home in :29.2, he hit the wire two lengths in front of a fast-closing – but non-threatening – Sutton. Rubber Duck held third.
“It’s nice when a plan comes to fruition,” said Miller. “I never really had any doubts tonight off of those fractions. He was very, very strong.”
The Erv Miller-trained Trolley returned $3.80 to his backers after completing the mile in 1:53.3. He’s now won five-of-six this year while facing the best stock on the grounds at the Big M. He has 16 wins from 31 career starts and earnings of $353,209 for owners Michael Anderson, Leland Mathias, Greg Gillis and Louis Willinger.
In the co-featured Preferred Handicap for fillies and mares on the pace, Divas Image, who looked rough-gaited at the start, settled for a fourth-over trip, tipped wide in the stretch, then exploded home in :26.3 to record a one-length win in 1:53.2 as the 3-5 favourite for driver Andy Miller. Believe In Me was second with Newsday third.
“When she was rough behind the gate, I didn’t know what to expect,” said winning trainer Jenn Bongiorno. “But I do know closing is definitely her best game. She absolutely loves the stretch at the Big M.”
Divas Image, a six-year-old by Bettors Delight-Rocknroll Diva, won for the second time this year in four starts (two-for-two at the Big M) and now has won 23-of-70 lifetime outings and banked just over $575,000.
A LITTLE MORE: One player wagering into the Oregon hub was the holder of the only ticket to last five legs in the 20-cent Survivor Pick-10 and walked away with $10,549.56. … During the course of the 13-race program there were six winning favourites, but longshot players hit big in the third race when La Dolfina ($99.80) scored at 48-1. Five races later, Piercewave Hanover skimmed the cones at 60-1 and returned $128.20. … All-source handle totaled $2,634,286. … Racing resumes Saturday at 7:15 p.m.
(With files from Meadowlands)
This is a great idea and hope
This is a great idea and hope it is a big success.
How about including the two races from the Meadowlands in the program.
This saves having to get a Meadowlands program and even then going back
from program to program. They could include it at the back of the regular program.
Make this easier for the bettors.