HERSCHBERGER DELUXE DRIVES SIX WINNERS AT BIG M
To say driver Mark Herschberger’s success at The Meadowlands has him ahead of any career trajectory he likely had hoped for is an understatement to say the least ...
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- November 28, 2025 -- To say driver Mark Herschberger’s success at The Meadowlands has him ahead of any career trajectory he likely had hoped for is an understatement to say the least.
The 30-year-old pilot, who entered the night third in the driver standings at The Big M, won six races on the Friday card, becoming just the third driver during 2025 to win that many on a single program. He joined some pretty good company. Driver of the Year favorite Jason Bartlett and perennial Big M top performer Yannick Gingras are the others to turn that trick this year.
On a night when wind gusts reaching 31 miles per hour dropped the real-feel temperature to 24 degrees, Herschberger stayed hot as a pistol all night long, despite conditions that were less than ideal.
“The headwind was tough and the whole track felt dead,” said Herschberger.
Maybe he should hope it’s always that way.
Herschberger scored in the third race with Im The Muscle ($12.20 to win) and Miz Captain Cruze ($6) in the fourth for his first two scores of the night. “Joe Putnam, who trains the horse when at Hoosier Park, got Bruce Lauer [the horse’s Big M trainer] on the phone and got me the drive on Miz Captain Cruze. The trip worked out and she raced phenomenally. Several years ago, Joey and his son said I should stay and race on the fair circuit in Indiana but six months after I came East, they told me what a good idea it was to make the move.”
Herschberger’s six-bagger now finds him with 86 Big M wins this year, good for second in the standings behind Brett Beckwith, who has 110.
The pilot ran his win total to five after scoring with Rock My Universe ($3.60) in the seventh, Camlachie Chrome ($6.40) in the 11th and Parody ($9.40) in the 13th.
His “That’s a half-dozen, cousin” moment came in the 14th and final, when Thaneeya ($17.40) got the right trip to complete an all-Herschberger $85 late double.
“I’ve been driving her pretty aggressively lately and it just didn’t work out,” said Herschberger. “She’s been a tough mare to drive, but tonight, she picked up some cover. She seemed to like that.
“Looking at the card, I thought we could make some money. But six winners? I’m absolutely floored.”
SAINTHOOD SHOCKER: Sainthood came from off the pace to bring a bountiful payoff one day after Thanksgiving in the Friday night feature, a mid-range conditioned event for trotters.
The 22-1 shot was unhurried early and sat eighth in the nine-horse field out of the first turn, worked his way into a third-over flow down the backside before firing home to light up the board to the tune of a $47 win payoff in 1:55.4.
“He’s a really big horse, and big horses have a tendency to do well in the wind,’ said winning driver Steve Smith. “There were some leavers early, so I was able to fill in. No, I wasn’t confident [at the top of the stretch] but I got into the race late and he got by them.”
A 4-year-old gelded son of International Moni-Truffles, Sainthood is a Joe Pavia Jr. trainee who won for the 11th from 50 career outings. His lifetime earnings are now $111,110.
A LITTLE MORE: There were no winning tickets sold on the 20-cent Pick-6, creating a carryover of $3,381 for Saturday’s card. Those with five correct collected $15.94. … Veronica Spicer led the trainer colony with a pair of victories. … All-source handle on the 14-race card totaled $2,296,222. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.
