BETTING BUSTS THE $3-MILLION BARRIER AGAIN AT BIG M

Sunday, March 27, 2022

Wagering was vigorous at The Meadowlands Saturday night, with all-source action clearing the $3-million hurdle for the fourth time in 2022 as $3,173,852 was put in play on the 13-race card.

Single-race betting exceeded $300,000 twice during the program, as $300,459 was wagered on race seven while $313,444 was the total pool on the 10^th. The track’s most-popular multi-leg bet – the $50,000 guaranteed 50-cent Pick-4 – was a hit with players, as $91,429 was put in play in the sixth race before $93,952 was poured into the pot in the 10^th.

The best night of wagering this year came on March 5, when a total of $3.75 million worth of action was taken.

GETTING IT DUNN: Dexter Dunn followed up his three-winner Friday with four more victories on the Saturday card, assuring the 32-year-old pilot of being named The Big M Driver of the Week for a second consecutive time.

Dunn reeled off four winners in a row starting in the third race when Stienams Beach scored and paid $10.60. I’ll Drink To That followed and returned $4.00 before I’m A Big Deal ($8.40) and Kenziesky Hanover ($6.20) capped the three-time defending United States Harness Writers Association Driver of the Year’s night.

The New Zealand native is continuing his climb in the driver standings. He currently sits fourth with 21 winners. Yannick Gingras (56), Joe Bongiorno (34) and Corey Callahan (22) are the top three.

THE STREAK LIVES: Gingras took the second race with Flyhawk El Fuerte ($13.00), extending the 42-year-old Hall of Fame-bound pilot’s streak of winning at least once on all 21 race cards conducted at The Big M in 2022.

A LITTLE MORE: Jeff Cullipher, Williams Hernandez and Chris Ryder all trained a pair to victory lane. … Todd McCarthy had a driving triple. … Racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m.

PHOTO: Kenziesky Hanover takes the featured trot Saturday night at The Meadowlands, one of four winners on the card for driver Dexter Dunn. (Credit: Lisa Photo)