Author: by Matt Zuccarello, for the MADC Series

On Saturday night, the Meadowlands hosted two more MADC pace races over a sloppy track. Not only did Tony Beltrami win both races, but he was the post-time favorite and normally we don’t see the betting public’s choice win these events.

When the connections of The Gypsy Queen IR claimed the daughter of Foreclosure N on Feb. 17, they knew the mare was talented, but they weren’t sure how talented. They found out on Saturday at MGM Northfield Park as she dug in down the stretch to win the $18,000 Filly and Mare Distaff.

It wasn’t easy, but American Dealer N, one week after finishing a solid second to the hottest horse around, got up at the wire to take the Saturday night pacing feature at The Meadowlands, a $23,000 high-end conditioned event.

The old saying goes, ‘Nice guys finish last.’ Well, in Buffalo Raceway’s $14,000 Open Pace on Saturday night (March 2), the nice guy finished first, Vel Mr Nice Guy ($18) that is.

Local pacing star Punchesinbunches was the big winner Saturday night at The Raceway’s annual awards night, taking home both 3-Year-Old Pacing Colt honors and winning a ‘unanimous’ decision as Overall Horse Of The Year.

he Game Of Claims Series, a vehicle for sharp horses racing for a tag to make good money for their owners (which can change every week during the preliminaries), kicked off its 2024 action on Saturday afternoon (March 2) at Pocono Downs.

A pair of $20,000 California Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacers headed by Polar Storm and Cenalta Token and an Open Pace that brings out Kamara were the highlights on Sunday evening’s Cal Expo program.

With a fast track and 40 degree temperature at the start of the card, on or near the front end in all three MADC races is where you wanted to be Friday night at The Meadowlands.

Wagering at The Meadowlands has been strong all year long, but Friday night was an especially good night on an especially cold night (with a real-feel temperature of 35 degrees) as a 2024 Friday-night best (and second-highest overall) $3,664,781 was put in play on the 14-race program.