Mother's Day at the Meadowlands wasn't all about the Mack Lobell Elitlopp Playoff as Always B Miki and Gallie Bythe Beach were winners in the co-features on the Sunday matinee program's harness racing undercard.
Making his second start of the year, Always B Miki scored decisively in the $25,000 open handicap pace for trainer Jimmy Takter.
After making the top in a leisurely opening quarter that was timed in :27.4, the field raced in a straight line past the half in :55. The 5-year-old son of Always A Virgin, who was 4-for-4 a year ago, reached three-quarters in 1:22.1 before sprinting home in :27 to record a 2¾-length, never-an-anxious-moment victory in 1:49.1 with David Miller at the lines. McArdles Lightning was second with Doctor Butch third.
As the 1-9 post-time choice, Always B Miki returned $2.10 to win for owners Bluewood Stable, Roll the Dice Stable and Christina Takter and now has 19 wins in 37 career starts.
Gallie Bythe Beach sat fourth to the three-eighths and was brushed to the top before the half by driver Tim Tetrick and maintained the lead from there to win the $25,000 open pace for fillies and mares by a hard-fought neck over Aniston Seelster. Empress Deo was third.
Sent postward as the 7-1 fourth choice, Gallie Bythe Beach returned $16.80 to her backers and covered the mile in 1:50.2 for owners Fashion Farms of New Hope, PA. The Jim Campbell trainee now has 16 wins in 57 career starts.
Sheeza Shark N, the 3-5 favorite who entered the race perfect in three starts at the Big M since shipping in from New Zealand, went an ideal second-over trip but did not fire in the stretch
TWO INVITATIONS: After crossing the wire first but then being disqualified and placed ninth in the Mack Lobell Elitlopp Playoff earlier on the program, Resolve was extended an invitation to the May 29 Elitlopp in Sweden nonetheless, as was Bee A Magician, who was the official winner of the race at the conclusion of the judges' inquiry.
STILL GROWING: The 5th race 20 cent Jackpot Super High Five might have been hit earlier on the Mother's Day card for better than $20,000, but the 12th race version of the wager continues to not get hit and now sports a carryover of $212,593.38 heading into the Big M's next live program, which is Friday night. Post time is 7:15 p.m.
MEADOWLANDS JACKPOT SUPER HIGH FIVE HIT FOR $22,612
20-cent wager had gone unclaimed since April 1, 2016
Mother's Day proved to be extra sweet for one lucky horseplayer who took down the $22,612 jackpot in the Meadowlands Super High Five wager. The 20-cent wager requires a horseplayer to correctly pick the first five finishers of the race in order. The jackpot amount only pays out in its entirety if there is one single winning ticket. Otherwise, 75-percent of the net pool is paid out to the multiple winners while the remaining 25-percent is added to the jackpot amount.
The Race Five winning combination of 4-10-2-4-5 was led by 2/1 second choice Can Do. 24/1 Sheer Flex helped juice up the sequence in second place while 18/1 I C Caviar was third. Fellow long shots Blue Muse and Never Ever Clever rounded out the top five. Favorite Forever As made a break in stride while third choice Mesmerized faded down the stretch to finish sixth.
The winning ticket was purchased through the AmTote Oregon Hub.
The wager featured a carryover of more than $17,250 coming into Sunday afternoon.
Nobody had hit the Jackpot Super High Five at the Meadowlands since April 1 when the wager was hit for $20,354.
Another Jackpot Super High Five wager on the final race of the program has proven difficult to take down. Its carryover is more than $204,233 entering this afternoon.
For more information, visit www.playmeadowlands.com.
by Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations