‘RACINE’ RINGS THE BELL IN BIG M FEATURE
The veteran mare Racine Bell knows much about winning, and more specifically, winning while flashing blinding speed, which is precisely what she did in the featured $23,000 winners over for fillies and mares on the pace Saturday night at The Meadowlands ...
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- December 2, 2023 -- The veteran mare Racine Bell knows much about winning, and more specifically, winning while flashing blinding speed, which is precisely what she did in the featured $23,000 winners over for fillies and mares on the pace Saturday night at The Meadowlands.
The 6-year-old daughter of So Surreal-Ty’s Artist, who took her lifetime best of 1:47.2 in the Perfect Sting at The Big M on July 2 of last year (beating defending Horse of the Year Test Of Faith), brought her usual speed show to the dance, and those who backed her at 4-5 cashed after another wire-to-wire score, this one in 1:50.
“She likes the front,” said winning driver Jason Bartlett. “Nobody left under me and she got to the front pretty easy.”
Leaving from post seven in the seven-horse field, Racine Bell fired away from the gate and had the lead before the field hit the first turn. Beach Cowgirl, the 8-5 second choice, sat in the pocket as Racine Bell hit the quarter in :27, half in :56 and three-quarters in 1:23.2.
In deep stretch, Beach Cowgirl came after the leader after vacating the pocket, but Racine Bell dug down for more once that one was alongside her, and went on to a safe neck win. Caviart Davia finished third.
“The other horse was getting close,” said Bartlett. “[Racine Bell] has been doing that this year a little. Before she would just run off. Now she’s smarter and just does what she has to do. This was her last start of the year, and they are looking to come back for the Blue Chip Matchmaker at Yonkers in the spring.”
Bartlett has enjoyed his Racine Bell experience.
“It’s been a great ride,” he said. “She’s come a long way since she was a baby but she’s always had that great speed. She’s very smart and definitely one of the best I’ve ever driven.”
As the public choice, Racine Bell returned $3.80 to win for her trainer David Dewhurst. She’s now won 37-of-95 lifetime starts, good for earnings of $1,164,749 for owners Chris S. Lawton and Dale G. Lawton.
AN EXTRA DAY: There will be an extra day of racing next week at The Big M, as in addition to the usual Friday and Saturday night programs, there will also be a live card on Thursday (Dec. 7). Post time is the usual 6:20 p.m.
CARRYOVER REPORT: There was huge action in the 20-cent Pick-6, as a double carryover of $37,839 led to over $105,000 in “new money” being bet. The total pool of $143,689 saw many patrons share the pot, as after a sequence that saw winner’s odds of 6-1, 1-5, 7-5, 8-5, 8-5 and even-money, those with six correct collected $226.00.
The 20-cent Pick-8 went unhit for a third straight time, so there will be a triple carryover of $16,541 offered on the wager.
Patrons should be aware that the Pick-8 carryover will be offered on Friday’s card, not Thursday’s.
A LITTLE MORE: Bartlett (four), Yannick Gingras (three) and Dave Miller (three) combined to pilot 10 of the 14 winners on the card. … Dewhurst, Ron Burke and Edwin Quevedo all had training doubles. … All-source wagering totaled $3,198,190, the 55thtime from 80 racing programs that betting busted the $3-million barrier during 2023.
