from the Meadowlands Media Relations Department

East Rutherford, NJ — Friday night (Dec. 8) at The Meadowlands brings 11 overnight races led by the $17,500 final of the popular Dash for the G-Note short series. That race comes up as the seventh on the card, kicking off the $50,000 guaranteed Late Pick-4 pool.

Ron Burke sends three entries out in pursuit of the top prize including 10-year-old class-master Ideal Matters, a recent addition to the barn. Ideal Matters (post nine) has raced the best around the East coast for the past few seasons, then finally found the claimers a few weeks ago and eventually was transferred via a private purchase.

The fresh surroundings apparently agreed with him (a perfect trip from driver Anthony Napolitano certainly didn’t hurt) as he dashed from the pocket to wear down 1-5 race favorite Kotare Yael N for a comfortable win with something left.

Ideal Matters now races in the Burke stable colors for the interests of the trainer as Burke Racing, in partnership with Weaver Bruscemi and Napolitano retains the drive on Friday.

Moonlight Ransom collected his first win of the 2017 season in last week’s elimination and has drawn well, starting from post three on Friday. Moonlight Ransom has shown steady improvement since joining the Jenn Bongiorno stable for owner Michael Singer and is poised to contend for driver Simon Allard.

Justified is the third horse returning off a win last week for trainer-driver Eric Abbatiello. Another war-horse, the 9-year-old winner of nearly a third of a million dollars went the fastest mile in the eliminations when he crossed the wire in 1:52.2. He races in the familiar colors of The Red Man Stable.

Promotions-wise The Meadowlands is in holiday mode with the direction being cash for the giving season. Friday it’s that old chestnut “Money Machine Fever,” a true fan favorite, that is not to be missed.

The fun starts at 7:15 p.m.