Thursday night's (February 16) Meadowlands Racetrack card was carried over intact from last week when Winter Storm Niko forced cancellation of the live racing program.
The featured races are a pair of finals of the short ‘Racing for G-Notes’ overnight series for trotters and pacers (Race 7 and Race 8 on the card). Both will be a part of the live TV broadcast on the SNY television network.
Trotters will be up first as will clash over a $15,000 purse. Trainer Patti Harmon holds a very strong hand with a powerful pair of six-year-old geldings that are coupled as a pari-mutuel entry.
Montalbano Bi has been experiencing a career renaissance since having been paired with young driver Drew Monti. The bay has triumphed in both of his preliminary legs of the series in the 1:55 range – thus flirting with his career mark (taken at age three). He's drawn Post 5 for the final for owner Joel Kahan.
The other half of the Harmon entry is Detroit Rapper, a long-timer in the barn, owned by the Harmon family. Detroit Rapper has been on the board in all three of his 2017 starts, but his effort last time out was clearly his best of the season. He came from well back for driver Jimmy Marohn Jr. to be second. He closed with a :28.2 final quarter and was clocked in 1:55.4.
The pacers will contest a $12,500 purse in their final, and the only preliminary leg repeat winner in the field is Mr Big Load. Trainer-driver Billy Mann has had the six-year-old gelding razor sharp throughout the series with a dominating 1:52.1 win last time out. If Mr Big Load can hold his form he could very well bring home the top prize to owners Friendship Stables.
Thursday is another Fan Appreciation night with $1 hot dogs and $2 beers.
Post time is 7:15 p.m.
(Meadowlands Racetrack)