East Rutherford, NJ – Talk about no respect.
On a night that saw four Exit 16W Pop Up Series finals, Big Ego was the only competitor looking for a three-race sweep of his division on Thursday night (Dec. 18) at The Meadowlands, yet he was sent to the gate as the 3-2 second choice in the wagering.
His fans didn’t complain.
In the $32,500 dash for 2- and 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers (race six), Big Ego was a boss who would not be denied. He popped out of fifth along the rail at the half, then sprinted up to engage leader Doctor Arroganto at three-quarters, which was timed in 1:23.4, before pacing clear to a 1-1/4-length score in a lifetime-best 1:51. Rider Hanover, the 3-5 favorite, worked out a pocket trip but did not find room to race until deep stretch, and had to settle for second. Watchfire was third.
“Leaving the car, with a horse like him, you can have options,” said winning driver Braxten Boyd of the Amanda Fine trainee. “Going out of the gate, it looked like I was probably going to have to use him a little too hard to get to the lead or the two-hole (as Rider Hanover blazed his way to the top in :27.2), so I just landed in and kind of let it play out.
“Brett’s (Beckwith) horse (Doctor Arroganto) struggles a little in the turn. I got to attack him at that point and then I kind of had the one that could have beaten us (Rider Hanover) right where I wanted him. My horse exploded once we cleared Brett. I couldn’t be more happy with him. All drivers love horses that love (going) first-over. It’s a lot of fun.”
Big Ego, a 3-year-old gelded son of Captain Crunch-Kiss Me, paid $5 to win after recording his fifth lifetime score from just 14 tries.
In the night’s most interesting pairing, Hey Porter defeated archrival A Real Legend by a length in the 10th race in a lifetime-best 1:51.4 in the $37,500 split for trotters who were winners of four but not more than seven races.
The pair had each recorded one win in the preliminaries with the other finishing second. In both of those races, A Real Legend was the odds-on favorite, but this time around, it was Hey Porter getting bet down to 3-5.
And he delivered.
A Real Legend exploded from the gate from post five but Hey Porter was on the go as well from the six hole, and actually had a nose up at the quarter in :28. The duo raced 1-2 past the half in :55.4, and as Top Mast started to put together a challenge that didn’t amount to much, Hey Porter maintained a safe edge past three-quarters (1:24.1) and all the way to the wire. Arrowhead Hanover was third.
“I didn’t really care which way it played out,” said winning driver Beckwith of whether he would race on the point or in the pocket. “Mine is versatile and he kind of does whatever you ask him to do. He’s a cool little horse. He has no flaws to him. It was a giant mile tonight. Anytime a trotter can go (1):51(.4) when it’s a little chilly is a very big feature.”
Hey Porter, a 3-year-old gelded son of Bar Hopping-Chelsees A Winner, is an Enrico Robinson trainee who now has seven wins in 26 career tries. He returned $3.20 to win.
BARTLETT AND ALAGNA DOUBLE UP: Jason Bartlett, the newly minted Dan Patch Driver of the Year, and trainer Tony Alagna, teamed up to win the other two Exit 16W finals.
Luisa Hanover body-slammed her foes in the third race, a $32,500 division for 2- and 3-year-old pacing fillies, winning by 5-1/2 widening lengths over She Stings in a lifetime-best 1:52.2 to stay unbeaten in her brief career. Turn Up The Music was third.
The 2-year-old daughter of Captaintreacherous-Lillian Hanover popped out of three-hole at the five-eighths and mowed down her foes while traveling first-over with the greatest of ease. She certainly didn’t look like a horse making just her second lifetime start.
“I decided to skip the second leg of the series,” said Alagna. “And just go in the final. She was nice and relaxed tonight in the post parade versus her first start under the lights.
“Jason took the ear plugs out at the head of the stretch because she was so relaxed. He wanted her to pace strong through the wire, and, boy, did she. She will now get a break to get ready for next year.”
As the 1-2 favorite, Luisa Hanover paid $3 to win.
Benny J, a 4-year-old son of Walner-Anywhere With You, completed the Bartlett-Alagna double by taking the fifth race, which was the $35,000 split for trotters who were winners of two but not more than four races, in 1:52.4, to up his stats to four wins in 33 career attempts.
The even-money favorite, who returned $4.20 to his backers, was facing lesser stock than he usually does.
“Between 4-year-old Kentucky Sire Stakes and the MGM Grand Prix Series (at Yonkers),” said Alagna. “It was nice for him to get a nice payday against a lighter bunch.”
After popping out of the five-hole at the half, Benny J moved swiftly toward leader Glutes Hanover and sailed past that foe at the head of the stretch on the way to an easy one-length win. Clear For Landing was second with Messenger Hanover third.
WINNERS, WINNERS EVERYWHERE: Ken Warkentin and Andrew “Shades” Demsky led the Big M handicapping talent hit parade with six winners apiece. Joe Romanelli continued his scalding-hot ways with five on top, giving “Joe Ro” 24 winners out of the last 52 races.
Mike Bozich lacked quantity, but made up for it with quality, digging everyone out by correctly selecting the winner ($25.20 to win), cold exacta ($62) and cold trifecta ($582.20) in the 12th race.
A LITTLE MORE: There were no winning tickets sold on the 20-cent Pick-6, creating a carryover of $3,087 when racing resumes. Those with five correct selections collected $26.76. … Beckwith, Bartlett and Mark Herschberger all tied atop the driver leaderboard with two winners each. … Alagna’s double led the trainers. … All-source handle on the 12-race program totaled $1,600,765. … Racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m. (EST).