from The Meadowlands Publicity Department

East Rutherford, NJ — Meadowlands Racetrack kicked off its 2010 harness meet with an unusual twist.

The opening night feature, the “We’re Not So Young Anymore” pace, was restricted to horses 10 years old and up. The quirky race was the idea of Racing Secretary Peter Koch, who played on the idea that all 10 horses in the field turned 10 or older on January 1, 2010.

Lisa photo

Image Of Dawn and Daniel Dube won the sixth race feature in 1:51.4.

Image Of Dawn, who turned 11 on Friday, rallied on the far outside to win the sixth race feature in 1:51.4. Napoleon, also 11, and Extender N, the 13-year-old veteran in the field, finished second and third, respectively. Driven by Daniel Dube, Image Of Dawn paid $11.40 as he posted his 45th career victory. Patrick Lachance owns and trains the millionaire son of Life Sign.

Swan Image got up in time to win the $32,000 Invitational Trot by a nose over Looking Hanover in 1:54.1 for driver David Miller and trainer John Billings III. Owned by Larry Roman, the 7-year-old Balanced Image gelding improved his record to 17 wins in 72 career starts. Lavec Dream shook loose late to finish third.

Native Bride and driver Brian Sears cruised to a 1:51.3 victory in the $32,000 Mares Invitational. A recent addition to trainer Lou Pena’s barn, Native Bride posted her second straight win and 22nd overall. Cuz She Can sat a pocket trip to finish second, while Ramona Disomma rallied three wide around the final turn to grab the show spot.

Meadowlands opening night Pick Four pays record amount

Longshots lit up the tote board in every leg, producing a record $67,998 Pick Four payout on Friday.

The winning ticket was purchased at Nassau OTB and correctly chose Image Of Dawn ($11.40), Swan Image ($29.40), Leanback Coco ($35.40) and Sam’s Shuffle ($31.80) to take down the entire pool.

The previous payoff record was $55,466 on March 25, 2009.

Offered nightly on races six through nine, the Pick Four has become a “must bet” at the Meadowlands with its low 15 percent takeout, guaranteed pools ($25,000 Wednesday-Friday and $50,000 Saturday) and high return rate. The Pick Four pool averaged $72,399 per card with an average payoff of $3,113 in 2009. The wager paid more than $1,000 nearly 50 percent of the time and more than $25,000 four times during the 2009 season.

The first $50,000 guaranteed Pick Four pool of the 2010 Meadowlands harness meet is Saturday, January 2. For Meadowlands racing analysts Ken Warkentin and Bob Heyden’s Pick Four tickets, go to www.MeadowlandsRacetrack.com or click here.