As winter storm ‘Jonas’ caused last Saturday's races at the Meadowlands Racetrack to be abandoned, Saturday (January 30) evening's harness racing program will be ‘Take 2’ for a number of upper-level conditioned pacers.
Fox Racing and Darius Oshidar's Kingofthejungle will be looking to reclaim his crown after a trio of game-but-unsuccessful efforts in Open company. Additionally, 10 of the evening's 14 races boast full fields of 10 starters, providing punters many opportunities to cash in mightily.
Kingofthejungle, a 13-time winner from the Mark Capone stable, has been installed as the 3-1 morning line favourite from Post 9 in the evening's featured ninth event, a $16,000 conditioned pace. After having kicked off cover to win a $25,000 Open event on December 19, the five-year-old Well Said gelding chased valiantly in his last three efforts, but was outmatched by Bushwacker on all three occasions. He has retreated back to the conditioned ranks, and Andy Miller is scheduled to be in the bike Saturday. The team will square off against a pair of other Open defectors in Shooters Dream (to be driven by Yannick Gingras from Post 5) and Sweet Beach (Brett Miller, PP6), who most recently rallied from last to take third at 77-1 in the January 16 Open. Also of note in the evening's top pacing event is 11-year-old veteran Real Nice, whose recent back-to-back wins pushed his career tally to 53. Scott Blackler trains the earner of over $1.3 million, and Scott Zeron remains aboard for the driving duties.
The ninth race also begins the late Pick 4, which boasts a $50,000 guaranteed pool. An earlier Pick 5 (beginning in Race 3) and Pick 4 (beginning in Race 5) combine to offer a further $55,000 in guaranteed pools.
Just one race before the feature, a full field of 10 third-level conditioned pacers will vie for a $13,000 purse, with half of the entrants having finished in the money at a similar level in their most recent race. Vice Consul N (Yannick Gingras, PP5), Dune Dude (Corey Callahan, PP6), and Jacksrluckytoo (Joe Bongiorno, PP8) are an evenly matched top trio on the morning line, as they have been installed at odds of 4-1, 7-2, and 5-1, respectively. Vice Consul N will make his second U.S. start for the Ron Burke stable – he chased sternly off of cover to finish third in a similar event three weeks ago. John Marulli Jr. trainee Dune Dude will look to bounce back off an extended first-over battle that saw him just miss Charger Blue Chip in that same race. The Rob Harmon stable's Jacksrluckytoo will be shipping in off a win – his third in four starts – at Yonkers. In his most recent victory, he rallied from off the pace to win an event for non-winners of four pari-mutuel races.
On Saturday night, the Meadowlands will also host the Homestyle Chili and Salsa Cook-Off, with $1,000 and a spot in the ICS World Championship Homestyle Chili Cook-Off in Reno, NV to the grand winner.
Post time for Saturday's card – which will feature nearly $76,000 in Jackpot High-5 carryovers should Friday's not be captured by a single punter – is 6:35 p.m. (ET).
(Meadowlands Racetrack)