BECKWITH AND THE BUCKEYE SPLIT BIG M SIX-PACK

Saturday, January 27, 2024

It was just four days ago that driver Brett Beckwith celebrated a birthday that allows him to walk into a bar and order a drink. For Hall of Fame pilot Dave Miller, that birthday was long ago.

After Friday night’s races ended at The Meadowlands, maybe the 21-year-old Beckwith and 59-year-old Miller went out and had a celebratory cocktail together, as both recorded three wins on the card.

Beckwith scored in the first, seventh and eighth races, with Sneak On Bye ($5.60 to win), Anna’s Wish ($9.00) and Shes So Sweet ($4.80), respectively.

For Beckwith, it was his second Big M driving triple in less than a month, having turned the trick on Dec. 29 of last year.

“[Anna’s Wish] was super,” said Beckwith of the Mike Terpolilli trainee who scored in 1:53.2. “I didn’t know how good she would be based on her last effort [when ninth with better in her 2024 debut]. She needed that start. Mike came up to me and said she was acting really well, and the fractions [:28, :57.1, 1:26] helped a ton.”

Shes So Sweet’s score gave Beckwith consecutive front-end winners.

“[Trainer] Brett [Derue] is a great dude who had a great year last year at Saratoga,” said Beckwith. “Driving for him is fun because his horses are always ready to go. Shes So Sweet fought right to the wire. She put in a great performance.”

A winner of 10-of-25 starts a year ago, Shes So Sweet completed the mile in 1:54.2.

Miller must love racing on Fridays, having won four dashes two weeks ago before his three-bagger.

‘The Buckeye’ scored in the second, third and sixth races with JK Lucky Charms ($3.40), Rose Run Yankee ($3.00), and Pattycake Mooss ($5.20), respectively. Miller came close to a fourth tally in the 14^th race, but came up a head short with 6-5 favorite I’ll Owe You One.

A LOT OF LITTLE: It was a big night for Big M TV host Dave Little, as the long-time handicapper tabbed six winners on top, including a big Pick-4.

When Little’s top pick, Bolt Of Beauty, won the ninth race and paid $43.20, it capped a Pick-4 that returned $550.85 for a $40 investment. He also had Mount Royal, who paid $20.40 in the 13^th.

Little’s other winners were JK Lucky Charms, Rose Run Yankee, value play Anna’s Wish and Shes So Sweet.

A LITTLE MORE: Beckwith will be Jessica Otten’s guest on the pregame show segment “In the Sulky” Saturday. … With no winning tickets sold Friday, there will be a carryover of $13,065 for Saturday’s seventh-race 20-cent Hi-5. … The 20-cent Pick-6 returned a staggering $48,579 after a sequence that saw winner’s odds of 7-5, 20-1, 6-5, 8-1, 5-1 and 9-1. … All-source handle totaled $2,753,123. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.

PHOTO: Anna’s Wish emerges victorious in the seventh race at The Meadowlands Friday night, one of three winners on the night for driver Brett Beckwith. (Credit: Lisa Photo)