Barimah A and Apple Bottom Jeans were the big winners as the Meadowlands hosted a pair of series finals on Saturday night.
Barimah A used a quick burst of speed to grab the top at the quarter in :27 in the $53,500 Whata Baron for horses and geldings on the pace. He hit the half in a rated :55 as Phoenix Warrior N was making progress on the outside before the pair duked it out through a lightning-fast third fraction of :26.1 as Barimah A maintained a length advantage at the top of the stretch.
From there, the eight-year-old gelded son of Bettors Delight paced his final quarter in :28 as pocket-sitting Windsong Leo was desperate for racing room along the pylons. At the wire, Barimah A would prevail by a neck over Windsong Leo with Phoenix Warrior N holding on for third.
The winner completed the mile in 1:49.1 – the fastest of the year at the Big M – and paid $5.00 to win as the favourite for driver Andy Miller, trainer Scott Di Domenico and owners Brian Carsey, John McGill and Adrian Friedland.
In the $54,500 Burning Point, Apple Bottom Jeans completed a sweep of the series for pacing mares, following up her two convincing preliminary scores with a half-length victory over Valuable Art in 1:50.2. Princess Fabulosa was third.
Driver Victor Kirby brushed Apple Bottom Jeans to the top at the three-eighths before having to yield to a headstrong Windsun Glory just before the half. Valuable Art, who had drawn post 10, was up to challenge the leader at three-quarters with Apple Bottom Jeans continuing to sit the two hole.
In deep stretch, Apple Bottom Jeans found some space along the inside and the Kevin Switzer trainee exploded home once clear to run her Big M win streak to three. As the 2-5 public choice, she paid $2.80 to win for owners KDK Standardbreds. The five-year-old daughter of Mr Apples now has 18 wins from 43 career starts and earnings of $477,224.
Bettors Edge defeated arch-rival Western Joe in the $20,000 Preferred Handicap for pacers, completing the mile in 1:50 while paying $11.20 to win.
The 20-Cent Survivor Pick-10 pool reached a new all-time high, as $25,788 was poured into the pot with two winners each walking away with $12,244 for surviving seven legs. The Late 20-Cent Jackpot Super High-Five wager has now reached a milestone, as the carryover now stands at $200,837.
(Meadowlands)