It was a night for the bettors at the Meadowlands on Friday (July 13), with big carryovers in the 50-cent Pick-5 and late 20-cent Jackpot Super High-Five, as well as a third straight 50-cent Pick-4 that saw big action.
The Pick-5, which had a carryover of $28,976, saw $192,177 in “new” money poured into the pot, for a total of $221,153. For many, the wager played out as a Pick-4 would, as 4-5 favourite Greenshoe won the payoff leg (race seven) with ease. For those who had the first four winners as well (the odds: 12-1, 6-1, 2-1 and 6-1), the payoff was a handsome $3,536.
After failing to break the six-figure barrier for two months, the 50-cent Pick-4 reached the $100,000 mark for a third straight time ($108,434), and after a sequence that saw winner’s odds of 2-1, 3-5, 3-1 and 4-5, the return of $71.40 was respectable given that two odds-on favourites scored.
The 13th and last race of the night was the big one, as the late 20-cent Jackpot Super High-Five had a mandatory payout. The carryover heading in was $276,939, and after an additional $260,783 was wagered, the total pool was a gigantic $537,722. Those holding tickets with the winning combination of 1-3-10-7-4 cashed in big, walking away with $76,472.76.
SUTTON SCORES IN PREFERRED: Sutton ($6.40 to win as the second choice) took the $20,000 Preferred Handicap for trotters impressively for Team Orange Crush - driver Andy and trainer Julie Miller.
The five-year-old son of Donato Hanover stopped the clock in a lifetime-best 1:50.4. It was two and a half lengths back to second-place finisher Dunbar Hall. Sutton won for the 10th time in 35 career starts and upped his lifetime earnings to $503,288.
MELANDER AND SEARS DOUBLE UP: Trainer Marcus Melander and driver Brian Sears scored twice on the card with heavy favourites.
Greenshoe ($3.60) took the $125,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final for two-year-old colts and geldings on the trot in 1:53.3 to remain unbeaten in two pari-mutuel starts, while Speed Titan ($3.20) hit the wire in 1:56.1 in her first-ever betting race in taking her $10,000 division of the Kindergarten Classic for two-year-old trotting fillies.
In other NJSS action, Mollydooker won the $75,000 two-year-old filly pace in 1:54 and Whispering Oaks prevailed in the $125,000 two-year-old filly trot in 1:55.1. Hurrikane Emperor dominated the $75,000 non-betting two-year-old colt pace, winning by more than 17 lengths in 1:53.3.
Other Kindergarten winners were filly Stella Jane and colts Precision and Sovereign Deo.
A LITTLE MORE: David Miller recorded a natural hat trick, driving the winners of the last three races on the card, including 12-1 shot Super S Yzerman, who topped the Jackpot Super High-Five. … All-source wagering totalled $2,790,750. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:35 p.m. and features the $701,830 Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace. Overall, more than $2.5 million is up for grabs over the course of seven stakes events on the 14-race card. … At 11 a.m., a new era in Big M history will begin as wagers on professional sports events will be offered in the track’s new Fanduel Sports Book @ Victory Sports Bar.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)