New faces trying to make their mark at the Big M

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – The Meadowlands big-stakes season ended last Saturday (Nov. 25) on Fall Final Four/FanDuel Championships Night, yet with winter about to place its chilly grip on the Northeast, The Big M will now shift into cold-weather mode, which means harness racing at the mile oval will continue to be the best in North America, albeit with some new faces trying to make their mark in the driver colony as some of the superstar pilots take some well-deserved time off.

Two such faces belong to Braxten Boyd, 23 and Johnathan Ahle, 26.

Both have shown signs of promise at The Big M and are hoping for more opportunity there during the next three to four months.

“Yeah, I’ll be there,” said Boyd, who scored 11 times at The Big M from Oct. 20 through Nov. 18, including a four-winner night on Oct. 28. “I felt pretty good about it. You know, you’ve got to have a little horsepower and then try to drive smart and be aggressive.”

Meadowlands fans have caught on quickly. Ten of Boyd’s winners have come at odds of 5-1 or less, with the exception being the 27-1 action on a Ron Burke trainee named Copperfield in a Kindergarten preliminary leg.

“He raced well,” said Boyd. “I couldn’t believe he was that long, to be honest with you.”

Boyd also mentioned the night he won four.

“Going into the card, I thought I could have a good night,” said Boyd. “But anytime you win four, it surprises you a little bit.”

Boyd is hoping to pick up some drives from trainers Bill Mac Kenzie, Edwin Quevedo and Mark and Cam Capone.

“Other than that, I’d like to be in every race as often as I can, trying for anybody I can,” Boyd said.

Boyd has found most of his success at Pocono Downs, and it’s at that Pennsylvania five-eighths-mile track and The Meadowlands where he is aiming to get most of his drives over the next few months.

He’ll race at The Big M regularly on Fridays and Saturdays, hoping some trainer might take a shot with him with a 2-year-old down the road.

“That’s the hope,” said Boyd. “I mean, fingers crossed. Maybe I’ll get lucky.”

Ahle’s rise in the game has been swift – and nothing short of amazing – to say the least.

While Boyd has won at least 239 races in each of his three seasons as a regular driver, Ahle was still an amateur pilot as recently as August of last year. Yet, after totaling three victories in 2021 and 45 in 2022, he has exploded on the national scene this season, with 271 wins heading into action Thursday.

“I think just traveling around and, you know, getting a lot more drives, helps you get more wins,” said Ahle. “It’s getting a chance to drive better horses, driving favorites and stuff like that. I’ve been going down to [Rosecroft in] Maryland and doing a lot of Freehold whenever I can.”

Ahle currently sits 23^rd in the standings at The Meadowlands with nine victories. His workload has been respectable, at 131 starts, with 27 on-the-board finishes.

Ahle learned the ropes working first for Shaun Vallee, and now, Noel Daley.

“Noel’s helped me out a lot,” said Ahle. “He gives me drives, gives me shots.”

Like Boyd, Ahle is on-board with being a Big M regular.

“I certainly plan to [be there] as long as I get to work,” said Ahle. “Assuming that a lot of bigger drivers take the winter off, I should get enough work to be able to. Noel uses me some and Tony Alagna used me a bit while the guys were in Kentucky, so that’s pretty cool. Whatever opportunities I can get, I’m grateful for.

“If I had my druthers, I’d have most of my starts [over the winter] at The Meadowlands, Rosecroft and Freehold, and maybe a little bit of Dover.”

SEE AHLE “IN THE SULKY”: During Saturday night’s pregame show, Ahle will be the guest as segment host Dave Little puts the pilot “In the Sulky” live on the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set.

In the Sulky takes place shortly after the pregame show begins at 5:45 p.m.

OH, WHAT A NIGHT: Last Saturday’s (Nov. 25) Fall Final Four/FanDuel Championships card was a non-stop thrill-a-thon.

The star of the FF4 was Karl, who impressed once again in taking the Valley Victory; Caviart Belle upset 1-9 favorite My Girl EJ in the Three Diamonds; Pizzelle pulled off a 6-1 surprise in the Goldsmith Maid; and Captain Luke delivered as the 7-5 favorite up the inside in the Governor’s Cup.

In the FDC, Twin B Joe Fresh became the first 3-year-old pacing filly to take the FanDuel Mares Pace; Jiggy Jog S finished off a powerhouse season with a victory in the Mares Trot; Southwind Tyrion crushed his foes, including Hambletonian champion Tactical Approach, who was trying to become the third 3-year-old in history to win the Open Trot; and in the much-anticipated matchup between Bythemissal and Confederate, it was Allywag Hanover who spoiled the party as a 17-1 upset in the Open Pace.

BIG BOUNTIES: Big fields at The Big M create a big chance for a big score.

Once again, they’ll be a pair of carryovers heading into Friday’s race card, after last Saturday’s 20-cent Pick-8 and 20-cent Pick-6 failed to yield any winning tickets.

The Pick-8 (which spans races four through 11) will begin with $8,180 in the hat while the Pick-6 (races eight through 13) will start with $13,662 in the pot.

“Both wagers will deservedly get an enormous amount of interest,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “The minimum for both wagers is only 20 cents, so everyone can afford to play. Negative takeout is extremely likely with the carryovers. Combine all that with a 15 percent takeout and these wagers certainly check all the boxes for the horseplayers on Friday.”

Both of the multi-leg puzzles will feature large fields, which is what the player seeking a big hit craves. Beginning with the fourth race on the Friday card, of the 10 races that make up the Pick-8 and Pick-6, seven will have 10 starters and three will have nine behind the gate.

RECORD BREAKERS: It figures that Fall Final Four/FanDuel Championships Night was a hit with bettors. After all, it’s the last huge night of racing in the sport for the calendar year. But 2023 was a tad more special than all of the others, because when the final tallies were calculated, it turned out to be the biggest FF4/FDC night ever in terms of business.

Despite two of the big races having five-horse fields, total handle on the 14 dashes was $3,691,552, which is $200,000 more than the previous best, set in 2013 when the great Foiled Again was the star attraction.

“Watching the top 3-year-olds take on the very best in the sport while setting the handle record was a great curtain call for the 2023 stakes season at The Meadowlands,” said Settlemoir. “At the end of the day, we gave racing fans the year-end matchups they desperately wanted to see. Their record-setting response says it all.”

FIVE YEARS, STILL GROWING: “There are many factors that go into our success,” said Settlemoir. “And one that all of us at The Meadowlands are extremely appreciative of are the steps Gov. [Phil] Murphy and the N.J. State Legislature have taken to make sure that the harness game stays strong in the great State of New Jersey.”

The numbers in November show anything but a game in decline.

These are the average nightly Big M handle figures for the month of November, starting in 2018:

• 2018: $2,110,835
• 2019: $2,390,320
• 2020: $2,510,807
• 2021: $2,534,332
• 2022: $2,757,900
• 2023: $2,995,875

Over the five-year span, November handle figures are up 41.9 percent.

DID YOU SAY FREE? Free past performances for every race of every Meadowlands card are available by clicking here.

THE GREAT EIGHT: The Meadowlands provides eight opportunities for the player to make a score trying their luck betting in pools with a low 15 percent takeout. The lineup of The Big M’s “Great Eight” is as follows (all wagers – with the exception of the Pick-7 – are carryover eligible):

• Race 1: 20-cent Pick-5
• Race 2: 20-cent Survivor Pick-7
• Race 4: 20-cent Pick-8
• Race 6: 50-cent Pick-4 ($50,000 guarantee)
• Race 7: 20-cent High-5
• Race 8: 20-cent Pick-6
• Race 10: 50-cent Pick-4 ($50,000 guarantee)
• Race 11: 20-cent High-5

“X” MARKS THE SPOT: Everything Meadowlands is available by going on X (formerly known as Twitter). You can check in with the Big M team for early changes, racing information and staff selections by going to @themeadowlands or #playbigm.

Stay in touch with The Big M team of Jessica Otten (@JessicaOtten1), Little (@DaveLittleBigM) and Ken Warkentin (@kenvoiceover).

WITHERITE’S RACE REVIEWS: Race reviews and selections by The Meadowlands’ morning-line odds maker and program analyst James Witherite are available 48 hours before a given race card. To access, simply click here, go to the “handicapping” tab, then click “race reviews”.

THE SKED: The Meadowlands will race every Friday and Saturday through the end of the year, with one exception.

There will be one extra night of live racing on Thursday, Dec. 7.

Post time for every program is 6:20 p.m. with the pregame show at 5:45 p.m.

TOYS FOR TOTS: Meadowlands fans can make the holiday season bright for a boy or girl by bringing a new unwrapped toy to the track for children in need. For each toy you donate, you will receive a $5 betting voucher.

The Big M’s Toys for Tots collection drive runs until Dec. 9, when, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., former New York Jets wide receiver Quincy Enunwa will be on-site helping the U.S. Marine Corps collect toys to be donated.

A TRIBUTE TO THE BOSS: On Saturday (Dec. 2), come out to The Big M and check out the The BStreet Band.

Trackside doors open at 6 p.m. and the band plays from 7-9 p.m.

The BStreetBand puts on a fantastic tribute to the one and only Bruce Springsteen and this show is not to be missed.

For complete information, click here.

KEEP LAUGHING: Chase away the winter blues with a night of laughter on “Winter Comedy Night” on Friday, Dec. 8.

Head to the newly designed Gallery for two hours of hilarious standup. There will be table service – with full bar – available.

The event will be hosted by Rory Lutz of Last Stop Comedy, and Travis Przybylski, who has appeared on AppleTV+, Netflix and Hulu.

GET FREDDIE’S AUTOGRAPH: On Saturday, Dec. 9, come to the track for a special book signing of the “Superfecta Trial” by Freddie Hudson.

Hudson will be on-site autographing his book and talking harness racing at the track beginning at 6 p.m.

STEAK AND THE RACES: If you want a great steak while you are playing the races, come on out to The Big M on Saturday, Dec. 9 for an upscale four-course classic steakhouse dinner.

In addition to a fabulous meal, diners will get a complimentary glass of champagne, live racing program and a $10 betting voucher.

The dinner takes place in Pink, and the cost is $100 per person (plus tax and gratuity).

Call 201-The-BigM for reservations.

FOOTBALL IS FABULOUS IN FANDUEL: If you like betting football, then you should check out the FanDuel Sportsbook, the No. 1 sports wagering facility of its type in North America. It couldn’t be easier to find. It’s located inside the grandstand at The Meadowlands.

The NFL returns Thursday (Nov. 30) with the Dallas Cowboys hosting the Seattle Seahawks at 8:15 p.m. The Cowboys are a 8 1/2-point favorite who are -460 on the money line in the game that has an under/over of 47½.

On Sunday at 1 p.m., the Atlanta Falcons (-2 1/2, -158) are at MetLife Stadium to take on the New York Jets. The under/over is 34.

The New York Giants are having their bye week after their 10-7 win over the New England Patriots.

Whatever the sport, for the latest odds, click here.

The FanDuel Sportsbook is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1 a.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.-1 a.m.; and Sunday 8 a.m.-midnight. For cash-at-counter customers, the hours are Monday through Friday 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m.-11 p.m. The Lounge opens at noon on Sundays.

From The Meadowlands