Muscle Diamond victorious in Big M return

A year on the sidelines failed to deter Muscle Diamond ($6.40), who advanced with live cover before striking the front in mid-stretch and holding sway in the evening's $18,000 top-level harness racing conditioned trot at The Meadowlands.

John Campbell settled the 4-year-old Muscle Hill entire in mid-division as early pacesetter Aldebaran Eagle (Andy Miller) controlled early splits of :27.4 and :56.1 before sliding second-over behind Rock of Cashel (Corey Callahan) on the far turn. Muscle Diamond was towed into second through a :28.3 third quarter, advanced on his own accord to put away Rock of Cashel in mid-stretch, but he wasn't home free yet. A pair of late challengers emerged–Kelsey's Keepsake (Joe Bongiorno) from third-over and Classical Annie (Jim Marohn, Jr.) up the pegs from the pocket–yet Muscle Diamond kept them a neck and a half-length at bay respectively, prevailing in 1:53.

Trainer Brett Bittle co-owns 7-time winner Muscle Diamond with Charles Keller, III, Charles Keller, IV, and E. Daniel Bittle.

David Miller led all drivers with three wins on the 13-race program, while Brett Miller tallied another two after his Friday grand slam.

Total betting turnover for the evening was $2,527,155.

Carryovers yielded a large Pick 4 pool and a hefty payday for one player in Saturday (December 10) evening's Jackpot High 5 at The Meadowlands.

The night's featured seventh race began a Late Pick 4 sequence that boasted a carryover of over $39,000, and players responded with $236,988 in new money. Similarly, a carryover of $57,161 and double-digit horses sweeping the top three positions prompted a $68,028.42 dividend in the closing race 20¢ Jackpot High 5 at The Big M.

To Beach His Own ($29.20) keyed the 4-6-3-5-8 combination, which was held by a single player through the Oregon simulcast hub.

Players and horsemen alike are advised that next week's racing schedule at The Meadowlands consists of live cards on Thursday (December 15) and Friday (December 16), with Saturday a dark day. Post time both evenings is 7:15 p.m. Eastern. 

MEADOWLANDS JACKPOT SUPER HIGH FIVE HIT FOR $68,028.42

One lucky horseplayer will have plenty of extra dough for the holiday shopping season after taking down the Jackpot Super High Five wager at the Meadowlands for $68,028.42

The winning ticket was purchased through the Oregon Hub.

The 20-cent wager requires a horseplayer to correctly select the top five finishers in order. The jackpot amount pays out only if there is a single winning ticket.

Saturday’s winning wager featured a carryover of $57,161. The carryover has continued to build since September as no one had successfully taken down the jackpot.

The winning sequence of 4-6-3-5-8 was led by 13-to-1 long shot To Beach His Own followed by 50/1 Twincreeks Jack, 65/1 Last Best Chance,  1/5 favorite Stimulus Plan, and 37/1 Makeoutlikeapandit.

This is the second time in the past two weekends that one of the track’s two Jackpot Super High Fives have paid out the jackpot. The fifth race jackpot was paid out for $20,020 last weekend.

For more information, visit www.playmeadowlands.com.

by James Witherite, Meadowlands