by Meadowlands Media Relations Department

East Rutherford, NJ — Horseplayers were salivating at the prospects of chasing a rare Pick-Four carryover entering Saturday’s (April 29) program at The Meadowlands. The first such carryover since December of nearly $62,000 attracted more than $226,000 in new money to comprise a total pool of $288,482.

Lisa Photo

Western Fame defeats Check Six in featured action at The Meadowlands on Saturday evening.

Players looking to lean on a favorite were disappointed as the chalk went 0 for 4. Second-choice Sam Hill kicked off the Pick-Four, winning a narrow photo over favored JK Will Power to pay $8.20.

Four-year-old stakes horses prepping for next week’s Graduate Series Pace took center stage in Race 8. Little Brown Jug runner-up and Breeders Crown elimination winner Western Fame converted a perfect pocket trip behind millionaire Check Six to score at $16.80 with even-money favorite Boston Red Rocks third.

Down Under import Quick Asa Trick made his North American debut a winning one for fellow Down Under imports Darran Cassar and Andrew McCarthy. The $13.60 mutuel set the stage for the payoff leg.

The 9-1 chance Dustlanemissmolly went right to the front for Joe Bongiorno and held off the late charge of 6-5 favorite Phyllis Jean to close out the sequence.

The winning 50-cent combination returned $1,036.50.

The action was also intense in the $50,000 BetAmerica World Harness Handicapping Championship. A field of 92 took their shot at the $20,000 first-place prize and title of harness handicapper of the year. Harold “Sonny” Winslow from Central New York turned his $300 bankroll into $1,809 to capture the title. He won by $460 over K. Koper while 2014 champion Robert McMasters finished third with $1,323.50. Winslow won his way into the final by winning a qualifying tournament at Vernon Downs. Fellow Vernon qualifier Jeffrey Billings finished fifth while Brandon Valvo, 21, from Upstate New York playing in his first tournament, finished fourth.

Total handle on the 11-race card was $2,767,494. Racing resumes next Friday (May 5). Post time is 7:15 p.m.

For more information, visit www.playmeadowlands.com.