Favourites failed in every leg of the 50-Cent Pick-5 at the Meadowlands Saturday night, and that suited two shrewd handicappers–one wagering into the Elite Turf Club hub and the other in the Catskills–just fine.
With a carryover of $30,928 serving as the catalyst for $177,835 in new money wagered, there was quite a bit of buzz for Pick-5 players, who, as it turned out, were vying for a total pool in excess of $200,000.
The key to the sequence turned out to be the fourth race, when after winners scored at odds of 5-1, 8-1 and 18-1, there were no doubt many tickets that singled 1-5 favourite Pauly Wally. But after he went a tough trip behind dull cover and failed as 5-1 chance Democracy N scored, giant payoffs popped up when the Pick-5 will pays were shown.
After Foxland and driver Victor Kirby scored at 5-1 in the fifth race, the two lucky players that held tickets with the combination of 5-2-6-2-6 cashed in for $72,149.45. Kirby ended up playing a huge role in the wager, guiding the winners of the first and fifth races, and, in addition, also having driven Pauly Wally.
HANDLE TOPS $3M: All-source wagering on the 13-race card totaled $3,205,559, the third best night of the meeting.
The “new” money bet into the Pick-5 led to a total pool of $389,201 in the first race with four other races during the course of the evening having total pools that topped $250,000.
The magic $3-million mark has now been reached at the Meadowlands 10 times in 2019. The meet best of $3.6 million was wagered on March 2.
THAT WAS SOMETHIN’: In the featured $30,000 Preferred Handicap for four-year-olds on the pace, Shnitzledosomethin pulled off an upset at odds of 8-1 for trainer Dylan Davis and driver Corey Callahan.
Callahan put the son of Fred And Ginger-Summer N Sand in a live second-over flow before collaring leader Albergo Hanover at the head of the stretch after moving three-wide on the far turn. He had to hold off even-money favourite Hayden Hanover, who was closing ground in deep stretch, but the wire came just in time and Shnitzledosomethin held on by a head in a lifetime-best 1:49.1. Rock Lights finished third.
THE "CAPTAIN" WINS 6: Corey Callahan won two of the first seven races on the card before catching fire. The 41-year-old pilot, known as “The Captain”, then swept the 50-Cent Pick 4 by taking races eight through 11. He scored in the first leg with a 7-2 shot but then three favourites followed (2-5, 4-5 and 4-5) to create an extremely popular payout of $27.65.
Had he won once more, he would have tied Yannick Gingras’ single-card meet best of seven winners, which he established on Feb. 1.
A LITTLE MORE: There was something for every player as favorites lost each of the first eight races before winning the last five on the card.
Kirby, Vinny Ginsburg and Eric Abbatiello all recorded driving doubles on the program.
The fifth race 20-Cent Jackpot Super High-Five did not result in a single-ticket winner, ballooning the carryover to $105,608.
Racing resumes Friday, June 14 at 7:15 p.m.
(with files from the Meadowlands)