Henderson Farms’ Bushwacker (who is 9-5 on the morning line) and Kenneth Jacobs’s Doctor Butch (2-1) are poised for a Saturday night rematch in the featured $25,000 Open Handicap Pace at the Meadowlands Racetrack.
The two favoured charges will square off against five other foes in Race 2, the night’s most prestigious dash on the 14-race docket.
Doctor Butch, the lone millionaire in the field, was assigned Post 6 for his second start of the meet. The six-year-old son of Art Major entire turned in a late rally in last week’s Open, as he kicked off third-over cover to pass all but one of his rivals. John Campbell will handle the driving duties once again for trainer Linda Toscano.
The one that Doctor Butch failed to pass — Bushwacker — was assigned the outside Post 7 in the group by virtue of a string of four straight top-two finishes against Open company at both Dover Downs and the Meadowlands. Last week, the five-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding found a seam up the pegs in the final eighth to kick clear off a pocket trip. Corey Callahan handled the driving assignment for trainer Chris Ryder last week, and ‘The Captain’ is slated to be back aboard the 13-time winner this week.
Other notable contestants include Kingofthejungle (to be driven by Andy Miller from Post 5), who won three straight races before facing defeat in the final sixteenth in last week’s Open, and Sunfire Blue Chip (Brett Miller, Post 2), who has amassed over $920,000 in career earnings.
A sub-featured upper-level conditioned pace has been carded as Race 9 and features a field of nine that will vie for a purse of $15,000. Following a traffic-troubled journey last week, Ron Burke trainee Ultimate Beachboy will drop down from the Open ranks for his third outing of the meet. Yannick Gingras will drive the 2-1 morning line favourite from Post 7, but the pair will face their fair share of formidable foes. Mr Franklin N (Tim Tetrick, Post 1) and Rockin Wizard (Callahan, Post 6) both come back off solid in-the-money finishes at this class, while Good Side (Jim Marshall, III) steps up off a third-level win and four prior top-three outings between Freehold and Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Punters should note that while the Pick 5 and Pick 4s still combine for $105,000 in guaranteed pools, the Pick 5 now begins in Race 3 and the Pick 4s are due to begin in the fifth and ninth events. Likewise, the 20-cent Jackpot Super High 5 will be offered in Race 7 and 14, with over $50,000 in carryover money awaiting this week’s players.
Post time for both the Friday and Saturday cards this week at The Meadowlands will be 6:35 p.m. (EST).
(With files from the Meadowlands)