from the Meadowlands Media Relations Department
East Rutherford, NJ — The Meadowlands Saturday night (May 26) card features three series finals and the great Foiled Again’s quest to reach 100 career wins.
The $47,000 Escort final (race six) pits eight 3-year-old colts and geldings with the very fast but green Thinkbig Dreambig the 9-5 choice on Dave Brower’s morning line in just his second career start. Sent away as the 3-5 choice in his maiden voyage last week, Thinkbig Dreambig was ranging up toward the leader in mid-stretch but doing so somewhat erratically then suffered interference in an eventual fourth placed third finish. Trainer Jimmy Takter will take the lines for owners Brixton Medical, John Fielding, Goran Anderberg and Goran Falk.
KJ’s Justine has come to hand in the Rainbow Blue series for sophomore pacing fillies and is the favorite for the $42,500 final (race seven), having swept the two preliminary legs including a 1:52.1 lifetime record last week. She races out of the Linda Toscano barn for owner Ken Jacobs and Eric Abbatiello drives from post three.
The $32,500 Hot Lead final (race eight) for older pacing horses and geldings could be a dogfight and Ballerat Boomerang comes into it off a crushing 5-3/4 length win over the field in leg two. Driver Vinnie Ginsburg put up a perfect steer last week, providing a cover trip and when tipped, Ballerat Boomerang took flight by the field. He’ll begin from post position eight for Nick Surick who trains for Engel Stable of Illinois and JL Benson Stable.
The ageless war-horse Foiled Again has certainly had a storybook career for trainer Ron Burke and partners Weaver Bruscemi and JJK Stables. Now facing mandatory retirement after this season at age 14, he is the richest Standardbred in history with a career bankroll of $7,573,178. It has taken 309 starts to get there with his win total stuck on 99 since January, so after a few sub-par efforts Burke prescribed a freshening of four months leading up to his return. He’ll face a field of six rivals in the fifth race from post two with Jim Pantaleano becoming the 36th driver over his 309 start career.
All of the guaranteed wagers are in place for the card and the last race Super Hi-5 Jackpot carryover has eclipsed $236,000. You may download free program pages here.
Post time is 7:15 p.m.