November Handle Increase At Big M

Published: November 29, 2013 11:43 pm EST

Friday night at Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment revived memories of years past with multiple lead changes, horses rallying from well back to win and 'Mr. Meadowlands' stealing the spotlight.

All-time Meadowlands leading driver John Campbell used the live flow to collect four winners on the night, employing the patented Campbell cover trip style on most. In fact, none of his four wins came with a horse that was on the lead turning for home.

Campbell steered Solid Queen to a grinding first over 1:53.4 score in an 8-1 upset for trainer Mike Russo and owner Scott Irwin in the fifth race. He tripped out the very next race with M&M Harness Racing’s new purchase Sweet Justice in a career best 1:54 for trainer Bruce Saunders at 5-2.

Campbell’s mount in the eighth was the favoured Best Boss, a catch drive for her regular pilot and trainer Pat Lachance. Kept well off the pace, she swept by the field with authority to win in 1:52. Lachance shares ownership with long-time patrons M&M Harness Racing and Ira Rosenblum.

The Triple Lindy rallied from well back to take race nine in a personal best equaling 1:54.1 under a Campbell steer. The talented five-year-old was winning for the ninth time this season for trainer Paul Kelley, who shares ownership with friends Stephen Michaels, Jim Winske, and Bill Weaver.

In addition, Corey Callahan, who had his coming out party this year at The Meadowlands this year won three races himself.

Friday’s card was the first Friday night of racing in the month of November conducted at The Meadowlands since November of 2010. But the results showed more promise for the new facility. Most significantly, the live handle showed an increase of 50-percent from the comparable November night in 2010. In addition, the total handle yielded a 56-percent increase over that same evening.

Saturday night’s card is one for the ages, with eight stakes on the program worth over $3.4 million. It is the first time The Meadowlands has hosted the “Fall Final Four” since the early winter of 2010.

Featured will be the marquee match-up in the $512,000 TVG FFA Pace with sophomore Captaintreacherous facing the finest older pacers on the continent including the sport’s richest, the $5.7 million winner Foiled Again. Combined earnings for that race’s ten contestants are just shy of the $20 million mark.

Hambletonian winner Market Share headlines the $500,000 TVG FFA Trot, while Bee A Magician looks to wrap up an undefeated season in the $253,000 Moni Maker.

(Meadowlands)

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