Friday night in northern New Jersey brings with it the promise of better weather and the return of live racing to the Meadowlands Racetrack. A 14-race program that will start at 6:35 p.m. is ‘trot-centric,’ with big fields and plenty of possibilities for the punter.
The weekly $25,000 Open Handicap Trot has had a different winner each week since live racing returned to the track last fall. Opulent Yankee is now in the queue to attempt that elusive return trip to the Meadowlands’ winner’s circle.
Opulent Yankee annexed the season’s fastest trotting mile of 1:52.1 for Andy Miller in a forwardly-placed effort last Friday. Taking over after having been parked to a :27 opening quarter, Miller kept his foot on the gas through a :55 half and three quarters in 1:23.3. The pair then accelerated away and put some distance between themselves and their pursuers before coasting home with a :28.3 final panel to close the mile.
Despite being saddled with the outside Post 8 for Friday’s feature, Opulent Yankee is the 8-5 morning line choice. Julie Miller trains for the partnership of Little E, LLC (the nom de course for Meadowlands owner Jeff Gural) Artie Geiger, Jason Settlemoir and Dave Stolz.
No fewer than three former Open winners are lined up to the inside of the favourite – Uva Hanover, Can Do and Cash Me Out have all ‘worn the crown’ for a week. Detroit Rapper may be in next line for the throne based on his solid closing effort in last week’s race (he finished second).
‘That’s My Driver’ will make a return to the promotion rotation and Saturday will feature the ‘Meadowlands Homestyle Chili & Salsa Cook-Off,’ which will feature a grand prize set at *$1,000 plus a spot in the ICS's World Championship Homestyle Chili Cook-off in Reno, NV.
(Meadowlands Racetrack)