Miss You N up by a nose in feature pace

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Thanks to a pair of longshots, there were no winning tickets sold in the 20-cent Pick-5 Friday night at The Meadowlands, creating a carryover of $43,342 for Saturday night’s card.

The Pick-5 gets underway in the first race, which has a post time of 6:20 p.m., and free past performances for the Pick-5 – and all Meadowlands races for every card – are available at playmeadowlands.com.

The Cote Keim driven, trained and owned Topville Cruiser went a long way toward creating the carryover, as the 39-year-old horseman recorded his first career driving win in one of three GSY Amateur Club races on the card. Topville Cruiser led at every call to record the victory at odds of 60-1 in the third race.

Make It Big secured the carryover by scoring in the very next dash at odds of 25-1 for driver Mark MacDonald and trainer Terry Morgan.

Those with four winners on their tickets collected $583.02.

If $100,000 in “new money” is wagered on Saturday’s Pick-5, that would create a significant “negative takeout”.

The $100,000 would be subject to the low 15 percent “rake”, leaving $85,000. When you add that to the carryover, that would create a total pool of $128,342, a “surplus” of over $28,000 returned to those with winning tickets since the carryover is not subject to the takeout.

MISS YOU N TAKES FEATURE: Missing for three months didn’t bother the winner of Friday’s high-end $27,500 conditioned pacing feature for fillies and mares as the Virgil Morgan Jr.-trained Miss You N scored from off the pace in 1:52.

Off a sparkling qualifier at The Big M when she won in 1:52 in wire-to-wire fashion, Miss You N’s driver wasn’t necessarily going to put the 8-year-old daughter of Betterthancheddar-Woman In Black on the point.

“I didn’t really have a plan,” said Dexter Dunn. “But I was a little worried given how slow the fractions were up front.”

Miss You N raced fifth in the early going in the seven-horse field, as The Bethinator took the field past the half in a dawdling :58.

Nearing the five-eighths, Todd McCarthy moved 3-1 second choice Bettors Heart N out of the four-hole, which provided a live tow for the eventual winner. Bettors Heart N was up to challenge the leader out of the far turn, and in mid-stretch, Dunn tipped Miss You N off her cover, and went on to prevail getting up by a nose in a driving finish over a resilient Bettors Heart N. The Bethinator held third.

MISS YOU N REPLAY

“I thought I was going to get past her a little easier,” said Dunn. “I wasn’t so sure I had it. You never know, but it was a good finish.”

Maybe so, but it was plenty nerve-racking on the bettors, who bet the favorite down to 4-5, as she returned $3.60 to win while chalking up her 33^rd career score from 88 starts. She’s now earned $488,975 for owners Carl Howard and Bottom Line Racing.

Miss You N’s last parimutuel start came on Dec. 10 of last year in the Open for filly and mare pacers at Dayton. Her last win was at Dayton on Oct. 22.

A LITTLE MORE: Handle was once again vigorous as all-source action totaled $3,155,483, the third time in four cards betting busted the $3-million barrier. … Yannick Gingras kept his streak alive of winning at least once on all 16 Big M programs in 2022 after recording a driving double. Dunn also guided a pair to victory lane. … Per Engblom trained a pair of winner’s circle visitors. … With horses winning at odds of 60-1, 25-1 and 7-1 to start the 20-cent Survivor Pick-7, those with those three winners on their tickets collected $3,320 after going just three-for-seven. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.

For full race results, click here.

by Dave Little, for the Meadowlands