While fireworks filled the skies across the United States on Saturday night, there were fireworks of a different kind around midnight as one lucky customer purchased the winning ticket in the last race Jackpot Super Hi 5, which returned $173,094.02.
The lucky ticket was bought through the advance deposit wagering site, TVG.
The correct combination of 7-6-9-3-8 included a 45-1 winner over the 1-2 betting choice followed by a 15-1 longshot, the 7-2 second choice and the longest shot on the board finishing fifth.
This is the second highest payout in Meadowlands history, following a Jackpot Super Hi-5 that returned $200,000 earlier in the meet.
The good news is there still is one Jackpot Super Hi-5 that is still alive at The Meadowlands, with a carryover now of $175,602.
With major stakes races at The Meadowlands on the horizon, it was important for several of Ron Burke’s contingent find their best stride. Rocklamation did her part on Friday and on Saturday it was Bettors Edge and Sayitall BB’s turn.
Bettors Edge won eight times in 2014 for earnings of over $678,000. While 2015 has not brought the same amount of success, the gelding still oozes class and that class was on display Saturday night at The Meadowlands.
Sent off as the 4-5 favourite in a field of six in an upper-level condition pacing event, Bettors Edge took no prisoners from the start of the race and was launched after Mister Virgin around the first turn and cleared the lead past the opening quarter in :26.3. From there, Bettors Edge settled into his rhythmic stride and he would lead the charge to the half-mile in :55.1. At that point, a challenge came from Art History, who committed first over and tried to engage the favourite past three-quarters in 1:23, but Art History proved no match for Bettors Edge. As the field turned for home, Joe Bongiorno called to his gelding for more speed and he responded, scampering three lengths clear. Melmerby Beach, who trailed throughout, was shown racetrack in the stretch and launched a relentless rally in the last eighth of a mile, but he came up just one-half of a length short as Bettors Edge held on in 1:49.3. Mister Virgin was third.
Bettoms Edge is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and M1 Stable. The win was the 23rd of his career and his earnings are rapidly approaching $1.5 Million.
Sayitall BB also returned to her winning form, with an authoritative triumph in a condition event for fillies and mares on Saturday night at The Meadowlands. On the heels of an excellent three-year-old campaign that included a Breeders Crown Championship, Sayitall BB has struggled while making her transition to her four-year-old season, winning just once in 11 starts in 2015 entering her Saturday night contest. She took a positive step tonight.
Sent off as the 6-5 choice, Sayitall BB went forward off the gate and allowed the speed to settle through an opening quarter of :26.4, before launching her bid for the lead as the field moved into the backstretch, where she would clear the front as the field straightened up. From there, the Breeders Crown champion reached the half-mile in :55-seconds before facing a challenge from All About Kisses, who looked the favourite in the eye past three-quarters in 1:22.3. But, Sayitall BB had plenty left in the tank and when Joe Bongiorno called on his mare for pace, the response was instantaneous as Sayitall BB sprinted away from the field in the stretch to win going away in 1:50.1.
Sayitall BB is eligible to The Golden Girls at The Meadowlands, as is her stablemate Rocklamation, who won on Friday night. The final for that event is Meadowlands Pace night, Saturday, July 18, with eliminations on July 11 if necessary. She is owned by Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC and is approaching $600,000 in lifetime earnings.
Lady Winona, who could be making her next start in the Del Miller Memorial was an emphatic winner of a condition trotting event on Saturday night. Allowed to settled off the speed, Lady Winona launched a first over blitz into fractions of :27.4 and :56.2 before clearing the lead and drawing away impressively to win decisively in 1:54.1. The win was the second of the season for the Credit Winner filly for owner Stroy Inc. and trainer Julie Miller. Steve Smith was at the lines.
Revenge Shark may have earned a berth in the Meadowlands Pace with a powerful stretch drive to score in a tough condition event in 1:50.2. Jim Marshall III guided the three-year-old colt to victory for trainer Tony Alagna in come-from-behind fashion. He defeated three other Meadowlands Pace eligible colts and a pair of talented New York Sire Stakes performers in the process. Revenge Shark is owned by Alagna Racing LLC and Bradley Grant.
The $25,000 Dash For The “G” Notes Final went to Kingofthejungle, who worked out a perfect second over trip and rallied boldly in the stretch to score his second victory of the season in a lifetime-best 1:50.4 with Jim Pantaleano in the sulky. The winner is trained by Brandon Simpson, who co-owns the four-year-old gelding with Fox Racing Inc.
Untouchable One captured the $20,000 Mini-Series Final for the $10,000 claimers rallying into a frantic speed duel that included a :53.2 half-mile to win going away with Joe Bongiorno in 1:51.1. It was Bongiorno’s second win on the card. The winner was trained by Bill Mac Kenzie for Anthony and Alma Iafelice.
Racing returns on Friday, July 10 with a special post time of 5:30 p.m.
(Meadowlands Racetrack)