by Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

East Rutherford, NJ — The night before the 93rd Hambletonian it was bombs away at The Meadowlands Friday (Aug. 3), as a track that had seen 29 favorites score in its previous 60 races (48 percent) became the land of longshots.

Five times on the 12-race card the winner’s odds were 16-1 or higher, and even though the 50-cent Pick-5 saw a 2-5 shot win leg four, the payout was still a hefty $12,016.25.

Lisa photo

Fox Valley Steffen and driver Jennifer Lappe won the fifth race and lit up the toteboard, paying $69.80 to win.

The non-chalk parade began in the opening race when amateur driver Roberto Michelotto guided Cheeky Little Minx ($48.60) to victory in an event for Hambletonian amateur drivers. The second amateur drivers race saw Jennifer Lappe guide Fox Valley Steffen ($69.80) to victory lane in race five.

Ake Svanstedt, who has a big chance to win both the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks Saturday, took race seven with Can’t Afford It ($35.80) before Sprinter N ($69.80) rocked the clock to the tune of 1:48.3 in the eighth.

The ninth race saw Steve Smith score with Atlas Alliance N ($49.60) to complete a Pick-3 that returned a whopping $6,797.00, while the 50-cent Pick-4 (races eight through 11) came back $6,128.50, despite being anchored by 3-1 and 3-5 winners, given the big prices that started the sequence in the eighth and ninth.

A Little More: Brett Miller, Andy Miller and Andy McCarthy all recorded driving doubles.

All-source handle totaled $2,332,354.

Hambo Day! The 93rd edition of the Hambletonian is the centerpiece for Saturday’s 16-race, stakes-laden card at the Big M. Doors open at 10 a.m. Post time for the first race is noon. Post time for the Hambletonian is 5:14 p.m. If you can’t make it to the track, the Hambo can be seen live on the CBS Sports Network. The 90-minute broadcast begins at 4 p.m.