Top Open pacers clash Saturday at The Meadowlands
May 13, 2016,from the Meadowlands Media Relations Department
East Rutherford, NJ — An accomplished field of seven with combined career earnings in excess of $8 million will compete in Saturday night’s (May 14) $25,000 Open Handicap Pace (race 11) at The Meadowlands.
Among them is a triumvirate of 5-year-old horses who finished 1-2-3 in the Dan Patch voting at age three back in 2014. McWicked won by a wide margin as the top of that class with Always B Miki nosing JK Endofanera out of second. Two years removed, these three veterans have now accumulated more than $5 million for their connections and are still competing at the highest level.
This week the brilliantly fast Always B Miki boasts the favorite’s role fresh off his easy 1:49.1 Mother’s Day romp. He and JK Endofanera are stablemates now, residing in Jimmy Takter’s barn and will line up side by side from posts six and seven on Saturday. David Miller drives Always B Miki for Bluewood Stable, Roll The Dice and Christina Takter while Yannick Gingras has the assignment on JK Endofanera for the 3 Brothers Stables.
McWicked has a new address this year, having taken up residence in Steve Elliott’s barn when shipped north from Florida. It was a quiet season at four for McWicked, winless in 10 outings, but he’s had a pair of vicious qualifiers at The Meadowlands and may well be up to a lot for driver Scott Zeron and the SSG Stable.
Speed merchant Mel Mara takes on the top class in his second start for Dylan Davis after a searing 1:48.2 score in his last. He is coupled in the wagering with the formidable In The Arsenal, who is prepping for next week’s Graduate Series leg, through a J&T Silva common thread.
Always At My Place and Doctor Butch complete the field of talented pacers.
The summer season outdoor promotions officially get underway with The Meadowlands Battle For The Best Burger on Saturday where 10 local burger purveyors will be grilling to impress a panel of carnivores in pursuit of the $1,000 in prizes.
The usual guaranteed horizontal wagers are in place, free program pages for the late Pick-4 are available courtesy of TrackMaster and the last race Hi-5 Super Jackpot stands at $212,593 to open the weekend.
Post time is 7:15 p.m.