With precisely zero races being won on the front end during the first nine dashes on the card, trainer Bruce Saunders must have liked his chances with his Betalady in the 10th race, the featured $22,500 winners-over $11,500 for fillies and mares on the pace Friday night at The Meadowlands.
After all, in her Big M return a week ago, the four-year daughter of Bettors Delight-Lady Jake swung four-wide into the stretch to gun down favourite Tango Dancer N at the wire. It worked so well, in fact, she tried the same tactic this time around.
Betalady got away from the gate fifth from post position six in the seven-horse field as Bye Bye Felicia sprinted the opening panel in :27.1. Yannick Gingras made an aggressive move soon thereafter with Wingding Hanover at the three-eighths to grab the lead and was sailing along on the point at the half in :55.4.
Following forced cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, MGM Yonkers Raceway is back this year with a full slate of stakes races for pacers and trotters of all ages.
Nominations for three of the stakes for 2021 close on Feb. 16 and interested parties are encouraged to submit payments promptly to ensure a chance to race for more than $2 million in purse money.
The Borgata Pacing Series (formerly George Morton Levy Memorial) highlights the best older pacers in the sport. In 2019, Western Fame captured the $663,260 Borgata final. The series commences on March 15 this year with the first of five preliminary legs. Each round of the Borgata will now take place on Monday, the featured night of the week at Yonkers Raceway, replacing Saturday. A $5,000 nomination fee must arrive by Feb. 16 for horses to be eligible.
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