For a second consecutive start, no one could keep up with Highalator at the Meadowlands Racetrack, as the five-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere-Higher And Higher, who was an easy winner in his Meadowlands seasonal debut a week ago at the tough non-winners of $17,500 level in 1:50.2, jumped in class to take the $30,000 Preferred Pace on Saturday, March 30.
There were no fewer than four horses that left the gate in the abbreviated six-horse field as Caviart Luca, Shneonucrzydiamnd A and K Ryan Bluechip all were away alertly from the outside, but Highalator protected his position from the rail and led into the first turn, an advantage he would never relinquish.
Highalator, driven once again by Rosecroft-regular Richard Still, hit the quarter in :26.1, but Still then calmed the Jenny Bier trainee as they hit the half in :55.4 while Shneonucrzydiamnd A sat the pocket, with Caviart Luca third at the rail and K Ryan Bluechip inching his way toward the leader from first over.
But after a rated third fraction of :28.2, neither Caviart Luca nor K Ryan Bluechip could mount a genuine threat. From there Highalator exploded home in :26 to record a never-in-doubt one-and-three-quarter-length win in 1:50.1. Caviart Luca finished second with Shneonucrzydiamnd A third.
“He struggled a little bit this year at Dover with sickness and tie-up issues,” said Bier. “He just loves the Meadowlands. He got an aggressive drive, which is what he needed. He’s as good now as he’s ever been. He’ll get next week off–well deserved–and then we’ll go from there. He’ll probably come back to the Meadowlands.”
Highalator paid $3.20 to win as the odds-on favourite and now has three wins in 10 starts this year. Lifetime, he has 24 victories from 56 outings and earnings of $329,028 for owners Jenny Bier, Joann Dombeck and Midsize Construction.
BURNING UP THE TRACK: Wheels On Fire went the fastest mile of the year at the Meadowlands in his seasonal debut as the 4-year-old gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere-Ab Fab made the lead while parked at the half in :54 before pacing his back half in :55.1 on the way to a hard-fought win over a fast-closing Hudson Phil in 1:49.1 as the 1-5 public choice in a non-winners of $17,500 pace.
Yannick Gingras drove the Ron Burke trainee to his sixth straight win dating back to last year.
WHITTEMORE’S WILD WINNING WEEKEND: After winning a pair of races Friday night, the duo of driver Jimmy Whittemore and trainer Marissa Chadbourne–who were both making their respective Big M debuts this year–completed their tag-team trifecta with 2-1 favourite Major Leaguer in the first race Saturday.
A LITTLE MORE: Marcus Miller drove three winners on the card while Corey Callahan and Dexter Dunn had two apiece.
The fifth race 20-Cent Jackpot Super High-Five failed to result in a single-ticket winner, upping the carryover to $73,387.54.
All-source wagering totaled $2,773,762.
Racing resumes Friday, April 5 at 7:15 p.m.
(with files from the Meadowlands)