‘PICKUP’ POWERS BY IN BIG M FEATURE

Friday, June 12, 2026

Curbside Pickup used a dimension of his game rarely seen to make it to the winner’s circle at the conclusion of the Thursday night feature at The Meadowlands, a $16,000 claiming handicap pace for horses in for a tag of no less than $20,000 and no more than $23,000.

Those with programs thought they knew where the 7-5 favorite would be early, because Curbside Pickup had been on the lead in each of his last four starts at the quarter.

But this time, from post 10 in the 10-horse field, things went differently.

Real Willey fired from the rail and led at the quarter in :26.4 while pressed by Gallie Getaway, who took the top briefly before Real Willey retook and led at the half in a quick :54.2.

Driver Joe Bongiorno had left the gate hard with Curbside Pickup, but had to abort that mission after being pushed four-wide into the first turn, and raced in sixth down the backside.

Heading for three-quarters, Real Willey was still there, in 1:23, but was being pressured by Dancing Lew first-over, who provided a live tow for Chalk Hanover, who provided live cover for Curbside Pickup.

Coming around the far turn, Chalk Hanover swung three-wide off his cover and was tracked by Curbside Pickup, who picked up the pieces widest of all, sprinting past the field to win by 1¾ lengths in a lifetime-best 1:50.2. Uncle DD rallied for second with Chalk Hanover holding third.

“You know what? Curbside Pickup is actually better from off the pace,” said Bongiorno, who also trains the 8-year-old gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere-Get Lucky. “It’s just, he’s got so much gate speed that you kind of get there pretty easily, and a lot of people don’t want to move on him.

“But honestly, he’s always been better off a helmet, but it’s like I said, he’s just a victim of circumstance. Sometimes, he ends up on the front.”

Curbside Pickup now has 18 wins from 140 career starts, good for earnings of $227,128. He returned $4.80 to win.

CARRYOVERS CASHED: There were two carryovers for punters to shoot for on the program, the first was the Early 20-cent Pick-5 (races 1-5), and the second, the 20-cent Pick-6 (3-8).

The Pick-5 carryover of $24,117 enticed players to wager $119,302 of new money into the pool, but after favorites won all five dashes, many people cashed in for the miniscule payout of $11.56. The total pool was over $143,000, and winner’s odds during the sequence were 3-5, 2-5, 1-2, 2-1 and 2-5.

The Pick-6 had a double carryover of $11,807, which led to $24,250 of new money being wagered for a total pool of just over $36,000.

After a sequence where the winner’s odds were 1-2, 2-1, 2-5, 4-5, 5-2 and 6-5, winning tickets were exchanged for $151.28.

DEBBIE TABS 10: It was just last Saturday (June 13) that Debbie Little set the record for the biggest-ever “Little’s Late Double” hit, when she cashed in for $868 for just a $40 investment.

On Thursday, she grabbed another slice of history, becoming just the third Big M track handicapper ever to select 10 winners on a card. Little joins her husband, Dave, and Ken Warkentin as the only three to reach double-digit victories on a single program.

The associate editor and columnist at Harness Racing Update, Debbie, who hosted the simulcast presentation, also gave out the early double, two exactas and hit with both her best bet (Hiranya N, 8^th race, $4.40 to win) and value play (Alwayswithyou, 7^th, $7.80).

Co-host Annie Stoebe, the trainer of Hambletonian hopeful Diabolic Hill, wasn’t far behind, picking nine winners, including the early double and one exacta.

A LITTLE MORE: Showing no rust in his first night back after spending two months on the shelf after being injured in an April 12 spill at Saratoga, Brett Beckwith drove four winners on the program. … Bongiorno also had four on the card to tie Beckwith atop the pilot leaderboard. Beckwith and Bongiorno sit 1-2 in The Big M driver standings with 77 and 75 wins, respectively. … Bongiorno and Cory Stratton led the trainers with two wins apiece. … All-source handle on the 14-race program totaled $1,707,785. … Racing resumes Friday at 6:35 p.m. … There is no live racing on Saturday due to a World Cup soccer match at New Jersey New York Stadium (aka MetLife Stadium).

PHOTO: Curbside Pickup and driver Joe Bongiorno won the Thursday night feature at The Meadowlands. (Credit: Lisa Photo)