Huge pick five payoff at Big M

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – For one lucky player, there was plenty of Christmas cheer at the conclusion of the 20-cent Pick-5 on the first of two special Thursday night harness racing programs at The Meadowlands.

That extremely shrewd bettor had the lone winning ticket on the Pick-5, and collected a handsome $28,712.22 just in time to fill his or her family’s stockings to the point of overflow.

The winning ticket paid off after the winning horses scored at odds of 6-1, 12-1, 4-5, 63-1 and 8-5.

The key winner was leg four’s Brooklyn Moonshine (Wind Me Up), who paid $129.40 after out-gaming 1-2 favorite Hurrikanekleepatra to the wire in the fourth race.

“ALTUS” TAKES FEATURE: Altus Hanover, a 7-year-old gelded son of Crazed-Audra Hall, deuce-popped at three-quarters and opened up enough real estate to hold off 1-5 favorite Milliondollardream in the featured claiming handicap trot.

After a third-place finish at The Big M two starts ago, driver Justin Huckabone did things just a bit differently this time around.

“The track was better tonight, better footing,” said Huckabone. “I got him close and I didn’t want to take any chances. I wanted to be out and rolling.”

ALTUS HANOVER REPLAY

A Peter Pellegrino trainee, Altus Hanover returned $23.40 to his backers as the 10-1 fourth choice in the wagering. He now has 19 wins from 96 lifetime starts and earnings of just under $225,000 after completing the mile in 1:57.

A LITTLE MORE: Tyler Miller led the driver colony with two winners. … All-source handle on the 10-race card totaled $1,225,976. … Racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Dave Little, for The Meadowlands