Apple Bottom Jeans stamped herself as the favourite for the $54,500 Burning Point Series final with a win in the first division of the second and final leg of the event for pacing mares Saturday, April 14 at the Meadowlands.
Sent to the gate as the 2-5 favourite, Apple Bottom Jeans sat fourth past the quarter as 2-1 second choice Bettorhaveanother was on the point. Apple Bottom Jeans moved to the outside at three-eighths, got up to the leader’s throat on the far turn, then drew clear to a two-and-three-quarter lengths victory in a lifetime-best 1:50.1 for driver Victor Kirby and trainer Kevin Switzer. Bettorhaveanother was second with Tica Hanover third.
The five-year-old daughter of Mr Apples returned $2.80 to win.
Valuable Art made the lead at the quarter in the other Burning Point division and, after being passed by Windsun Glory in mid-stretch, came back to record a nose win over that foe in 1:51.2. Stormtracker was third.
The winner, a five-year-old daughter of Art Official, was driven by Corey Callahan and trained by Shaun Callahan. Sent the 6-5 public choice, she paid $4.60 to win.
Barimah A made the lead at the three-eighths and kept 3-5 favourite Windsong Leo at bay through the stretch to record a three-quarter-length win in the lone division of the Whata Baron Series second preliminary for horses and geldings on the pace. Hug The Wind N third.
Barimah A is an eight-year-old gelded son of Bettor’s Delight who completed the mile in 1:50.4. He was driven by Andy Miller and trained by Scott Di Domenico and is the likely favourite for next week’s $53,500 Whata Baron final. He paid $5.60 to win.
A LITTLE MORE: The Pick-4 continues to be as popular as any multi-leg bet in all of harness racing as the total pool topped the $100,000 mark for the third time this year, handling $105,082.
All-source wagering totaled $2,328,218 on the 10-race card.
The Late 20-Cent Jackpot Super High-Five failed once again to result in a single-ticket winner, inching the carryover ever closer to the $200,000 mark at $192,943.
The 20-Cent Survivor Pick-10 had a record-setting night, as the biggest pool in the history of the wager, $25,061, was the total play. For those who survived all 10 races, the reward was a payoff of $7,633.
Favourites ruled as post-time choices won 14-of-20 races over the course of the Big M’s Friday-Saturday race week.
Live action resumes at the Meadowlands Friday, April 20 at 7:15 p.m.
(With files from the Meadowlands)