Nicholas Beach gutsy in Open Handicap Pace

With an intense stretch drive by harness racing reinsman Joe Bongiorno, Nicholas Beach (Somebeachsomewhere) held fast to his lead all the way to the wire in winning the $36,000 Open Handicap Pace at The Meadowlands Saturday (April 8).

It was Whole Lotta Lou (David Miller) that started out on the lead in the 10^th race co-feature with Burnham Boy N (Dexter Dunn) then taking command at the opening quarter mile in :27.2.

Then Bongiorno moved first-over from third and they cleared to the lead before the half mile in :55.1. As they raced down the backstretch, Komodo Beach (Andy McCarthy) came first-over with Baba O’Riley (Barton Dalious) second-over.

The three-quarters were reached in 1:22.3 with Nicholas Beach still in command of the field. As they raced down the stretch, Burnham Boy N and Dunn came after Nicholas Beach and Bongiorno, but to no avail as they went on to win by a neck in 1:50. A late flying race favorite Lou’s Pearlman (Yannick Gingras) was third.

NICHOLAS BEACH REPLAY

It was the second win this season for Nicholas Beach. The seven-year-old gelding is trained by Jenn Bongiorno for owners John Engacher, Melco Devim, Inc. and Jenn Bongiorno. He paid $7.80 to win.

With perfect positioning by harness racing driver Yannick Gingras, Hillexotic (Muscle Hill) was able to come on in the stretch and beat the race favorite to the wire in capturing the $31,500 Open Trot Saturday at The Meadowlands.

The 6^th race co-feature saw a flurry of lead changes by the first quarter as Inaminute Hanover (Andy McCarthy), then Hillexotic and then after the quarter in :27.2, race favorite Lovedbythemasses (Todd McCarthy) made it to the top.

Lovedbythemasses then led the field to the half mile in :56. Down the backstretch Eurobond (Jordan Stratton) was still parked out first-over in fourth place with Delayed Hanover (Dexter Dunn) going three-wide to no avail.

By the three-quarters in 1:24.3, Lovedbythemasses was in the lead but pulling the pocket and coming on in the stretch was Hillexotic.

Those two battled down the stretch with Hillexotic digging in with a :26.4 last quarter mile to win by a half a length in 1:51.2. Lovedbythemasses was second with Inaminute Hanover third in a photo.

HILLEXOTIC REPLAY

It was the first win in five starts this year for Hillexotic. His last two starts were seconds by a head and a nose. The six-year-old gelding is trained by Ron Burke and is owned by Burke Racing Stable, LL, Weaver Bruscemi, LLC and Phillip Collura. He paid $7.80 to win.

27 IN A ROW: All-source wagering totaled $3,098,801, keeping an impressive Big M betting streak alive.

There have been 27 Friday and Saturday night programs contested at The Meadowlands during 2023, and each one has seen betting bust the $3-million barrier.

During 2022, there were a total of 85 race cards contested at the mile oval, and betting went past the $3-million plateau 23 times.

A LITTLE MORE: Todd McCarthy led the driver colony with four winners on the night. Dave Miller won three on the betting card and added another victory in a non-betting Standardbred Retirement Foundation series dash. … Burke had a training double, with both being driven by his go-to pilot Gingras. … The 20-cent Pick-6 came back giant, as those with winning tickets collected $13,351.38 after a sequence that saw winner’s odds of 1-1, 5-2, 5-2, 3-5, 24-1 and 2-1. … Racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for The Meadowlands