Big carryover leads to sizable pot at Big M

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – When Dragons Lucky Lady (Dragon Again) got up on the wire in a thrilling photo finish in the ninth harness racing race at The Meadowlands Friday (Nov. 18) night, the results revealed no winning tickets in the Early 50-cent Pick-4, meaning that Saturday night, there is going to be some big play on the wager.

The winning odds of the horses for the sequence were 37-1, 3-1, 23-1 and 10-1, creating a carryover of $49,039.67. That money will be offered to players on Saturday’s Early 50-cent Pick-4 (races six through nine), which could see $200,000 in “new money” for a possible grand total of $250,000. In conjunction with the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering initiative, Big M management is guaranteeing $175,000 in “new money”, meaning that the total pool will be no less than $225,000.

The value to bettors is incredible. In the event there is $200,000 in “new money” wagered, after you remove the low 15 percent takeout, that leaves $170,000. When you add in the carryover, that would result in a total pool of $219,000, creating a “surplus” of $19,000, or a return to the player of 109 percent.

Free past performances for every race of every Meadowlands card are available by clicking here.

Those who had three correct Friday cashed in for $103.65.

What’s better than one carryover? Why, two, of course.

There were no winning tickets sold in the 20-cent Pick-6, creating a carryover of $5,201.12 for Saturday night. Those with five winning selections on their tickets collected $1,733.86. The Pick-6 is offered on races eight through 13.

‘QUEST’ VICTORIOUS: Weslynn Quest (Manofmanymissions) might have come into the Friday night feature with an 0-for-16 record this year, but the classy 6-year-old found the drop into a high-end conditioned trot much to her liking, as she strolled home as much the best in the $18,000 feature.

“She was overloaded with trot last week and couldn’t find a hole,” said winning driver Corey Callahan of her :27.1 final quarter when sixth to It’s Academic in the Preferred for trotters. “Tonight, this was basically a double class drop.”

And it looked that way.

Weslynn Quest was away in no particular hurry, racing fourth past the quarter, before Callahan roused her to the top at the half in :56.2. She took token pressure around the far turn from Hoosier Park shipper Muscledover but shrugged that one off as they straightened away into the stretch, opening up a 4-length edge before going on to an easy 1¼-length score in 1:53.3 to lift the lifetime earnings for the Trish Adams trainee to $484,321. Inaminute Hanover was second with Memo third.

WESLYNN QUEST REPLAY

“I figured at some point, I’d get her to the front,” said Callahan. “Once I did, it was all over.”

As the 3-5 public choice, Weslynn Quest returned $3.20 to win.

A LITTLE MORE: Scott Zeron led the driver colony with three winners. “The Money Man”swept the late double, which paid $507.00, when he guided 47-1 longshot Bullvillekarla and 9-5 favorite Chief Of Staff to the winner’s circle in the 13^th and 14^th races, respectively. … Tyler Miller had a driving double. … Four winning horses on the card went off at odds of 23-1 or more. … All-source handle totaled $2,400,216. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.

For complete race results, click here.

by Dave Little for The Meadowlands