Greg Merton reached a career milestone amidst a driving triple during Saturday night's (June 11) harness racing card at The Meadowlands.
Following a victory aboard Bos So Hot ($11.20) in the third race for trainer John Marulli Jr., Merton earned his 4,000th career win aboard Medoland Jate ($7.80) in the eighth for the Richard Johnson stable.
Merton secured the milestone victory with Brian and Ira Wallach's six-year-old pacer Medoland Jate prevailing by a nose in a three-way finish over favourite Itrustyou and True Blue Hall. The time of the mile was 1:49.4.
Merton also went on to win the 11th race with Noel Daley's Major Buddy A ($4).
In the evening's featured $17,000 conditioned pace, Bushwacker prevailed after a length-of-the-stretch duel with even-money favourite Melmerby Beach, winning by three-quarters of a length in 1:48.4, a lifetime-best clocking.
After Melmerby Beach grabbed the lead at the quarter in :26.2, Odds On Equuleus made the top at three-eighths and then Bushwacker quickly brushed to command at the half in :53.2. The eventual winner still had the lead at three-quarters (1:21.4) as Melmerby Beach crept closer from first-over after vacating the three-hole at the five-eighths. Melmerby Beach poked a head in front at one point as the duo battled through the stretch, but Bushwacker, who won a week ago in 1:49.3, repelled his challenger to go on to a dead-game victory. Alexie Mattosie, a 68-1 longshot, finished third.
As the 8-5 second choice, Bushwacker returned $5.20. The five-year-old gelded son of Rocknroll Hanover was driven by Daniel Dube and is trained by Chris Ryder for the Henderson Farms of Chicago.
In other action, driver Andy Miller and trainer Mark Silva teamed up to sweep the $10,000 second-leg divisions of The Caramore Series with Michaels Power ($2.20) and Card Shock ($5.60).
Neither of the Big M’s 20-cent Jackpot Super High Five wagers had a single-ticket winner, setting up one big and one enormous carryover for the next live program. The fifth-race wager now has a carryover of $15,884.81, while the 12th race Jackpot Super High Five now sports a $253,827.71 jackpot.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)