The Meadowlands Racetrack will present another weekend of live racing with a pair of 14-race cards on tap at 6:35 p.m. both Friday and Saturday (February 19 and 20) nights.
The Meadowlands will head into the weekend looking to continue the current streak of five consecutive $3-million-plus handle nights. Friday's program offers more of the exciting, competitive racing that has marked the winter meet thus far with big fields, low take-out and guaranteed pools creating some big shots for the horseplayer. The last race Super Hi-5 Jackpot is now at the doorstep of a $100,000 carryover.
Free program pages are available for the $50,000 Guaranteed Late Pick 4 and live paddock chatter right from the ‘horse's mouth’ is always just a click away via the Meadowlands’ twitter feed.
Trotters will take centre stage in the ninth race, the $25,000 Open Handicap. There's an interesting new shooter that will start from the rail this week in Rock Of Cashel. The son of Majestic Son laboured in anonymity as a youngster north of the border, but blossomed when he arrived state-side and landed in Mark Harder's barn.
Having raced primarily over the half-mile oval at Yonkers Raceway, Rock Of Cashel earned over $128,000 for owners Joseph Jannuzzelli and Jeffrey Ruch last season. After two consecutive breaks at Yonkers in the new year, Harder brought him to the Meadowlands to qualify over the mile track, which resulted in a big effort with a :27 final quarter. Last week against condition types, Rock Of Cashel trotted the race of his life, as he won in a career best 1:53.2 by a widening seven lengths.
The win has earned Rock Of Cashel a promotion to the top class, where he will start from the rail against many of the best trotters currently racing. While Corey Callahan drove Rock Of Cashel to last week's victory, he opted off for Friday's race and Brett Miller has inherited the live steer.
There will be a National Handicapping Championship qualifier on Saturday night at the Meadowlands. The top three finishers will qualify for the rich NHC final in Las Vegas next year.
Post Time to 7:15 p.m. in mid-March
Meadowlands faithful should take note that beginning on March 18 post time will be moved to 7:15 p.m. This move is in anticipation to carding fewer races once other tracks in the surrounding area reopen for their 2016 live season.
(Meadowlands Racetrack)