The Meadowlands Pace undercard this Saturday night (July 18) at the Meadowlands Racetrack includes the $520,000 (est.) William Haughton Memorial for older pacers, but Bettors Wish will not be among them after he was not entered Tuesday (July 14) by trainer Chris Ryder.
The United States' 2019 Three-Year-Old Colt Pacer of the Year, Bettors Wish finished eighth last Saturday at the 'Big M' in the $250,000 Graduate final, and a scope done afterwards revealed the four-year-old son of Bettors Delight bled.
“We scoped him and that’s the first time he’s ever been scoped in his life,” Ryder told harnessracing.com. “He showed some blood so we’ll put him on Lasix.”
Bettors Wish was making his third start of the year on Saturday, and was coming off of a two-length win in 1:48.2, which was recorde3d a week prior in the second Graduate preliminary at the Meadowlands. On Saturday, Bettors Wish was sent off as the betting favourite in the final, despite starting from Post 10. Driver Dexter Dunn was still able to work out a perfect trip and was in great position on the final turn, but the pacer failed to fire. Bettors Wish finished eighth, beaten only four lengths, and was race-timed in 1:47.4 in the 1:47 mile by winner Hurrikane Emperor.
“(Trainer) John McDermott’s horse (Hurrikane Emperor) raced tremendous,” said Ryder. “For my horse, it wasn’t a good performance at all, unfortunately. He just wasn’t himself.”
Bettors Wish has recorded 19 wins, 10 seconds and three thirds over his 34-race career. Ryder said plans now call for Bettors Wish to start in the Sam McKee Memorial on Hambletonian Day (August 8) at the Meadowlands, meaning he will have a month between appearances.
“The Sam McKee on Hambletonian day, who wants to miss that?” said Ryder. “Now we have to make sure he’s 100 per cent.”
(Harnessracing.com)