Madelines Blk Jack rockets home in Big M top pace

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Madelines Blk Jack (JK Endofanera-Honey’s Luck) used a ferocious final quarter to take the Saturday night (Feb. 25) harness racing feature at The Meadowlands, a $21,000 high-end TrackMaster 91 for pacers.

The 5-year-old gelding raced in the outer flow third-over past the five-eighths before swinging into the four path for the stretch drive, and used a final quarter of :26.2 to record his 12^th lifetime win from 53 starts. The mile time of 1:50.4 equaled the Andrew Harris-trainee’s lifetime best. It was 1¼ lengths back to a gallant My Pal Joe, who never saw the rail from post 10. Mysweetboymax was third.

“We ended up third-over,” said winning driver Andy McCarthy, “it was a flowing kind of trip. He ended up racing really well. He’s a pretty big horse so he didn’t agree with racing at Yonkers (finishing seventh there in his last start). It just worked out for us.”

As the 22-1 ninth choice in the wagering, Madelines Blk Jack returned $47.40 to win.

GINGRAS’ GREAT EIGHT: After winning five times on the Friday card, Yannick Gingras made three more visits to the winner’s circle Saturday, giving the 43-year-old Hall of Famer eight winners for the weekend, making him odds-on to win a second straight Driver of the Week Award.

Dave Miller actually led the driver colony on Saturday, scoring four times on the program.

15-FOR-15: The Meadowlands’ streak of betting over $3 million on Friday and Saturday nights during 2023 remained unblemished after $3,555,885 was pushed through the windows on the 14-race card.

Thus far this year, there have been 15 programs contested on Friday and Saturday nights, and each one has seen wagering go past the $3-million mark.

A LITTLE MORE: There were no winning tickets sold in the 20-cent Pick-6, creating a carryover of $7,627 for the next time the bet is offered, which is Friday’s eighth race. Those with five correct collected $154.46. … Next week, International Women’s Day will be celebrated on Friday and Saturday, with Saturday offering a pair of races featuring all female drivers. … Racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m.

For complete race results, click here.