East Rutherford, NJ — I’m Some Graduate used a perfect pocket trip to upset Geez Joe in the $20,000 Preferred Handicap for pacers, the Saturday night (Dec. 22) feature at The Meadowlands.

I’m Some Graduate and driver Yannick Gingras took the Saturday night feature at the Meadowlands, the $20,000 Preferred Handicap for pacers. Lisa photo.

Driver Yannick Gingras put I’m Some Graduate in play from post six and led at the quarter before Marcus Miller and Geez Joe stormed up on the outside from post eight to grab the top shortly thereafter. Geez Joe’s second fraction was a spirited :26.4 with a stiff wind at his back and the even-money favorite looked poised to take his fourth straight Big M victory.

Highlandbeachycove came calling to offer token pressure at the three-quarters while Gingras and I’m Some Graduate continued to wait patiently for their chance right in behind the leader.

Geez Joe still had a length on I’m Some Graduate at the head of the lane, but over a track that favored closers for the first half of the 14-race card, I’m Some Graduate rallied with a rush along the inside as Geez Joe tired in deep stretch to grab a 1-1/2 length victory in 1:51. Ron Burke trainees finished 1-2 as Clouseau Hanover out-kicked Geez Joe for second.

I’m Some Graduate, a 5-year-old gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere-Western Graduate, scored in his first Meadowlands start since March 10 and returned $8.00 as the second choice in the wagering. He’s won eight of 31 starts this season and 14 of 62 lifetime, good for a bankroll of $268,578 for owners Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, Silva, Purnel & Libby and Larry Karr.

David’s Fab Five: Gingras had a superb night, winning four times, including the feature, but the driving star was David Miller, who scored five times on the program. Ron Burke led the trainers with three victories, all driven by Gingras.

A Little More: 50-cent Pick-5 players didn’t have to spread their tickets terribly wide to make a nice score. The winning odds during the sequence were 8-5, 5-1, 5-1, 6-1 and 3-1, creating a handsome payoff of $2,677.

The strong winds gave handicappers a challenging night, as the first half of the program saw horses win from off the pace, then speed took over for a handful of races, before the winds in their face in the stretch returned, turning the bias back to closers.

All-source wagering totaled $2,339,334.

Racing resumes Thursday at 7:15 p.m.