A WELL-HANDLED MADRID A TAKES BIG M FEATURE

Saturday, December 14, 2024

Sometimes, everything falls into place marvelously with some keen driving, and that’s exactly how things went for Madrid A in the featured conditioned pace for fillies and mares at The Meadowlands Friday night.

Pilot Lauren Tritton did everything right with Madrid A, as the 6-year-old by Bling It On-Lillylane scored in 1:51.2 taking down 3-5 favorite Factory Girl in the $13,000 dash.

“I just wanted to keep her out of trouble,” said Tritton. “I didn’t want anything bad happening in the race.”

JM Betonsix fired away from post one, and hooked up with Madrid A in a nose-to-nose battle around the first turn. Tritton opted to back Madrid A into the two-hole as JM Betonsix hit the quarter in 27.1. Factory Girl had nowhere to go but forward, having left hard from post six in the seven-horse field and had to use a big burst of energy to get the lead at the three-eighths.

Tritton had an opportunity to get closer to the leader after JM Betonsix took some wonky steps, and she moved Madrid A into the pocket before the half as Factory Girl hit that beam in :56.

Life wasn’t easy for Factory Girl, who was pressed by Dixie Dream from the half to the three-quarters, where she still was the leader in 1:24.

Tritton thought she was in good shape.

“She was full of run,” said Tritton of Madrid A. “And she’s had a couple of unlucky trips lately.”

Madrid A popped the pocket just inside the eighth pole and went past the defenseless public choice to score by 2½ lengths. Factory Girl finished second with Tony’s Mom third.

“She’s a happy horse,” said Tritton. “If you keep her sharp, she can do anything.”

Trained by Lauren’s husband, Shane, Madrid A won for the 21^st time from 50 lifetime starts. She has now earned $328,327 for owners Robert Cooper Stables, R.M. Weinstein and S. Klunowski and paid $12.40 to win as the 5-1 third choice in the wagering.

A LITTLE MORE: Mark Herschberger, 29, one of The Big M driver colony’s “Young Guns” finished the night atop the leaderboard with three victories. … There were two Meadowlands Amateur Driving Club races on the program, every one of the remaining 12 dashes were taken by a driver no older than 31 years of age. … There were no winning tickets sold on the 20-cent Pick-6, creating a carryover of $3,722 for Saturday’s card. Those with five correct selections cashed in for $124.10. … All-source betting on the 14-race card totaled $2,233,935. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.

PHOTO: Madrid A and driver Lauren Tritton won the Friday night feature at The Meadowlands. (Credit: Lisa Photo)