A top-level conditioned pace headlines Friday (December 23) evening’s 13-race card at the Meadowlands Racetrack, and players will notice a couple youthful additions to the ‘Big M’ driver colony.
The night’s sixth race takes top billing, as nine upper-level pacers will square off for a $15,500 purse in the closing leg of the early Pick 4. Betty Tauber’s Elrama N will seek a third consecutive win after having circled off cover to a 1:50.3 score over fourth-level rivals on a chilly December 16 evening. As Corey Callahan will be absent for the Friday card, trainer Michael Russo has secured Brett Miller – a winner of eight races last Friday – to handle the driving duties of the 22-time winner. Elrama N, one of two horses in the field to be entered for the optional $50,000 claiming price, has been installed as the 3-1 morning line favourite from Post 3.
Among the eight with whom Elrama N will contend are Ron Burke trainee Rufo, who has been first or second in four of his last five races in Pennsylvania, and Alberto Contador N, who will arrive from Yonkers following a pair of strong closing bids. Rufo, a pillar-to-post winner at Pocono two races ago, figures well to be the pacesetter in the group after likewise nearly controlling the terms in a similar event at Harrah’s Philadelphia more recently. Joe Bongiorno will drive the 7-2 second early choice from Post 4. Alberto Contador N could well be a factor from off the pace, noting his near miss at Yonkers in his last effort. Jim Marohn Jr. will drive the Darran Cassar trainee from Post 6.
In terms of new additions to the driving colony, Tyler Smith will look to build momentum after his driving double last Thursday. The top-five Hoosier Park reinsman will drive in 12 of the night’s 13 races, including five starters at 6-1 or lower on the morning line. Smith will have company this week, as Drew Monti will arrive after having captured the Batavia Downs driving title. The 22-year-old Canisius College alumnus is slated to drive in seven races on the Friday program.
As usual, $105,000 in guaranteed Pick 4 and Pick 5 pools awaits players on and off-track alike throughout the Friday card. Post time for the program is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. (ET).
(Meadowlands Racetrack)