ANTOGNONI S LOOKING TO ‘CRUZE’ IN BIG M SERIES

Thursday, April 9, 2026

The Ron Burke-trained Antognoni S had a fabulous 2025, yet, he didn’t make headlines like his stablemate Lexus Kody, who ended the season as the Dan Patch Trotter of the Year after earning an industry-best $1.3 million.

Last year, Antognoni S won 16 of 24 starts and banked $481,537. His two biggest wins came at Yonkers Raceway – in the MGM Grand Prix and John Brennan Trotting Series – but he didn’t race during the course of the season in the bigger events against “Kody”, or Kody’s arch-rival, Periculum.

This year, things could be much different.

Antognoni S will be at The Big M Friday (April 10) night in the first leg of the JL Cruze, a series that pays tribute to the first horse to ever break the 1:50 barrier on the trot at The Meadowlands. Antognoni S is the 5-2 morning-line favorite from post three with co-owner Yannick Gingras in the sulky.

“He’s ready to go, I think, right now,” said Burke of Antognoni S, who qualified at The Big M on April 4 in spectacular fashion. “Last year, it was never a question of racing at The Meadowlands, it was just, we didn’t have him in the big stakes. We didn’t make payments because we didn’t really know last year how good he was.”

Antognoni S’s versatility could go a long way toward a big 2026. It’s already obvious that he can do things at a high level going four turns.

“It doesn’t matter (what sized track), honestly, that’s a good horse,” said Burke. “By the end of (2025), I told (co-owner) Mark (Weaver) and them guys, he’s better than (Lexus) Kody. We would train them together and he would beat Kody.

“I think this year he’ll be maybe the best aged trotter we have.”

It won’t be easy pickin’s for Antognoni S Friday. He still has to contend with Asteroid and Resolve To Win, who finished second and third, respectively, a week ago in The Big M’s overnight trotting feature. Take All Comers led for most of that dash, and he, too, is part of the 10-horse field.

The JL Cruze series will have its second leg on April 24 before the final on May 2.

Then, the stakes season for older trotters at The Meadowlands kicks off on May 16 when 4-year-olds and older go at it in the $175,000 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial. It was last year in the Cutler that Antognoni S made his last appearance at The Big M, when the 6-year-old gelded son of Father Patrick-Bouncing Bax finished third as the 6-5 favorite behind Periculum and Lexus Kody.

Maybe both of Burke’s trainees will face off again in the Cutler, as Lexus Kody gets his season underway this Saturday.

“Lexus Kody qualifies Saturday at The Meadowlands,” said Burke. “I think Kody has a bigger (2026) schedule, you know, because we do keep Antognoni more for (the smaller tracks), because, obviously, Kody can’t do Yonkers like Antognoni can. Kody will do it once in a while but he’s not going to do it all the time like this horse will. So more small tracks with this horse, more big tracks with Kody.”

What’s the schedule for Antognoni S?

“I’ll have to talk to his genius co-owner and driver,” said Burke with tongue firmly in cheek. “I’m sure after the first start, we’ll see what he thinks.”

“He does fit him well,” said Burke of Gingras when speaking seriously. “He does such a nice job with him because he keeps him quiet. The horse can get hot. He does a great job. He picked his spots when he pushed him leaving and made him sit in. I thought that’s what I loved the other day about the qualifier. He sat in perfectly and then exploded (home in :25.4 to win in 1:54.1).

“We didn’t know he was that good (last year), so he’ll get more (opportunities) this year. He’ll get more of a chance to prove he belongs. And there’s no doubt in my mind that he belongs.”

WHO’S ON THE SHOW? This Friday and Saturday, a pair of faces that are in the rotation will be seen on the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set alongside simulcast show regular Dave Little.

Friday night, Manhattan lawyer and sports agent Larry Fox, a “double threat” who has not only co-hosted the show several times but called an entire race card on Nov. 20 of last year as well, will sit alongside regular host Little.

Little will then shift one chair to the right on Saturday, when his wife, Debbie, the associate editor and columnist at Harness Racing Update, will be the host of the broadcast.

Ken Warkentin will call the races – as usual – on Friday and Saturday.

Gary DiLeo will serve as paddock interviewer both nights as well as providing analysis and selections on the FanDuel Television (FDTV) feed on Friday.

Kiara Morgan will handle FDTV on Saturday.

THE SCHEDULE: Live harness racing at The Meadowlands will be conducted on a Friday-Saturday basis through Sept. 12 with a first-race post time of 6:35 p.m.

There are two post time exceptions. The post times that are different occur on July 4, when the Meadowlands Pace eliminations program kicks off at 6 p.m., and on Aug. 8, when the Hambletonian Day card begins at noon.

JOHN THE REVELATOR: John Rallis brought his A+ game to a new spot now featured on The Big M’s live pregame TV presentation last weekend.

On Friday (April 3), the Trot Magazine columnist suggested that viewers take note of recent performances by a pair of horses in the new “Replays with Rallis” segment.

Targaryen Empress rallied well to finish fourth in the second race, but Rallis’ fans rejoiced in the seventh, as 11-1 shot Cheese Omelet hit the winner’s circle with 73-year-old driver Dante Scattolini recording his first-ever victory at the mile oval, returning $25.20 to win.

But Rallis wasn’t finished.

Saturday (April 4) night, the 2025 Dan Patch Lew Barasch Breakthrough Award winner gave out another pair of competitors, and once again led his flock to a big score.

Idiosyncratic got a fourth-place check in the third race, but Rallis saved his best for last for a second straight program, as in the 10^th, Novel came from just off the pace to score at 15-1, paying $32 to win.

For those who risked $20 to win on each of the horses Rallis turned the spotlight on, their investment would have been $80, with their return totaling $572, good for a profit of $492.

KIARA KILLED IT: Morgan was back on the Meadowlands’ talent scene for the first time in four weeks on Saturday (April 4), giving her analysis of the races on the FanDuel Television (FDTV) feed, and her followers had big smiles on their faces after playing along with her in the Early 50-cent Pick-4.

Her picks were also available on X at @themeadowlands.

Morgan’s ticket – which called for an investment of $32 – included Art Of Revenge ($14.40 to win) in the sixth race; Funtime Bayama ($3) in the seventh; Dance Partner ($23.80) in the eighth; and Typhoon Banner ($9.80) in the ninth.

The payoff of $557 gave her fans a profit of $525.

GET YOUR FREE PROGRAMS: To show appreciation to its loyal fan base, The Meadowlands offers free program pages for every race of every race card on its website.

Go to playmeadowlands.com, then click on the “news” dropdown to get the past performances at absolutely no cost.

A GREAT WAY TO PLAY: Every night, The Meadowlands offers a marvelous menu of popular wagers that offer a low 15 percent takeout.

Here is the rundown of when these wagers will be offered on the 14-race programs that will take place this Friday and Saturday:

• Races 1-5:20-cent Pick-5
• Races 3-10:$1 PK 8
• Races 6-9:Early 50-cent Pick-4 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)
• Races 8-13:20-cent Pick-6
• Races 10-13:Late 50-cent Pick 4 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)
• Race 14:10-cent Pentafecta (Hi-5)

CHECK OUT FACEBOOK AND X: Check out The Meadowlands on Facebook (@meadowlandsracetrack) for race replays, interviews, carryover updates, promotional videos and much more.

Everything Meadowlands is also available by going on X. You can check in with the Big M team for early changes, racing information and staff selections by going to @themeadowlands or #playbigm.

Stay in touch with The Big M talent duo of Dave Little (@DaveLittleBigM) and Ken Warkentin (@kenvoiceover).

THE MASTERS IN FANDUEL: Meadowlands regulars who love to plunk down a bet or two on professional sports, know all they have to do is head for the FanDuel Sportsbook, the No. 1 betting facility of its type in North America.

It couldn’t be easier to do, as it’s located inside the grandstand at The Meadowlands. There are massive TV screens and self-service betting terminals, which enable fans to watch and wager in comfort while having some great food and drink.

It’s time to break out your green jacket and get to the sportsbook and bet on The Masters.

The Masters is the first major of the season on the PGA Tour. It began Thursday (April 9) at 7:40 a.m.

Scottie Scheffler (+550) is the favorite to win at Augusta. He is followed by Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm (+1000), Rory McIlroy (+1300), Xander Schauffele (+1500) and Ludvig Aberg (+1700) on the odds board.

The odds for a top-five finish have Scheffler (+115), Rahm (+190), DeChambeau (+195), McIlroy (+220), Schauffele (+240) and Aberg (+300) as the top six.

The odds for a top-10 finish are Scheffler (-210), Rahm (-125), DeChambeau and McIlroy (-105), Schauffele (+105) and Aberg (+130) as the top half-dozen.

Whatever the sport, for the latest odds, go here.

The FanDuel Sportsbook is open for business Monday through Friday 10 a.m. – 1 a.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. – 1 a.m.; and Sunday 8 a.m. – midnight.