It was another big Saturday night at the Meadowlands, as for the third time this year, wagering surpassed the $3-million mark at the industry’s handle leader.
Betting was consistent throughout the 12-race card, with only one race failing to reach the $200,000 mark. The third race saw the biggest pool of the night, $319,684, while the eighth was a close second, at $318,041.
The total handle for the card was $3,036,706, which works out to an average of $253,058 per race.
The other two $3 million nights came on March 3, when betting was a 2018-high $3.45 million, and on March 24, when $3.08 million was pushed through the windows.
Ron Burke was the big man on campus for the night, training four winners on the program, including two victories in pacing series action.
Burke’s Windsong Leo was the recipient of a pocket trip from driver Jim Marohn Jr. on the way to taking the first leg of the Whata Baron, for horses and geldings who are non-winners of six races.
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The six-year-old gelded son of Jereme’s Jet won by three-quarters of a length over Barimah A, completed the mile in a lifetime-best 1:50.2 and paid $5.00 to win as the public choice.
Bettorhaveanother scored for Burke in the second division of the Burning Point opening prelim, for fillies and mares who have not won six races, with Brett Miller at the controls. The six-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight held off 6-5 favorite Valuable Art by a head in 1:51.3. She paid $4.80 to win.
Apple Bottom Jeans took the opening division of the Burning Point with Delaware regular Victor Kirby driving. The five-year-old daughter of Mr Apples, trained by Kevin Switzer, was two-and-a-half lengths clear of Stormtracker at the finish in a lifetime-best-equaling 1:50.3. Even-money choice Windsun Glory was fourth. She paid $5.20 to win.
A LITTLE MORE: When Rockinwiththebest scored in the third race at odds of 33-1, the stage was set for a giant 50-Cent Pick-5 payoff. The bet spans races 3 through 7 and the upset in the opening leg set up a $21,359.40 return.
Racing resumes at the Big M Friday, April 13 at 7:15 p.m.
(With files from the Meadowlands)