If you’ve forgotten that the late Pick 5 and the Super Hi-5 were uncovered on the final card at the Meadows before the COVID-19 shutdown, you’re forgiven; that was March 16, ninety-one days ago.
But it means that when live racing at the Meadows resumes Monday, June 15, the 10-race program will offer a trio of rich wagering opportunities: a $2,026.34 Pick 5 carryover (Race 6); a $5,243.61 Super Hi-5 carryover (Race 10), and a $5,000 total-pool guarantee in the early Pick 4 (Race 2).
The Meadows will offer four live cards each week — Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday — each beginning at the new post time of 12:45 p.m.
Monday’s card features an ultra-competitive $17,900 Open Handicap Trot; the eight heavyweights in the field boast combined earnings exceeding $4.58 million.
Three of the contenders have recent pari-mutuel starts under their belts. Icanflylikeanangel (Post 8, Mike Wilder) finished second in a June 6 Open Handicap at Northfield. Perlucky (Post 6, Dave Palone) was a hard-used third in a May 26 Open Handicap at Northfield while Final Breath (Post 4, Brady Brown) actually has a pair of recent outings. He won that May 26 event at Northfield and finished sixth in a June 5 Open at Scioto Downs.
Also formidable is Smalltownthrowdown (Post 5, Aaron Merriman), a seven-year-old millionaire making his initial start in the stable of trainer Bill Bercury and owner Renee Bercury.
Here’s the exotic wagering schedule for Monday’s card:
· Daily Double — Races 1&2, 9&10;
· Exacta, Trifecta — Every race;
· Superfecta — Every race, 10-cent minimum wager;
· Pick 3 — Races 3&8, 50-cent minimum wager;
· Pick 4 — Races 2&7, 50-cent minimum wager;
· Pick 5 — Race 6, 50-cent minimum wager;
· Super Hi-5 — Race 10, 20-cent minimum wager.
(Meadows)