PRACTICAL MAN TAKES BIG M FEATURE

Saturday, May 2, 2026

Practical Man got his 3-year-old season off to a good start Friday night at The Meadowlands, as the Tom Fanning trainee made the lead at the half and just held on at the wire to score in the featured $20,000 high-end conditioned event for sophomore male trotters.

“He has to get a little better to go with the top horses,” said Fanning. “Tonight was the first step in the right direction and he will do fine in New Jersey races.”

Dollar Draft, the 3-1 second choice, had the lead at the quarter in the eight-horse field in a tepid :29.3 before Practical Man moved out of the four-hole and brushed to command at the half in :59.1.

He maintained a 1¼-length edge at three-quarters, which went in 1:27.4, before holding off the late-surging Dollar Draft at the wire by a head in 1:55.1, a lifetime best for the colt by Tactical Landing-Fashion Athenia. Southwind Fargo was third.

“He’s come back pretty well this year. He was nice at 2 but took a little bit to mature. He’s come back pretty smart,” said winning driver Todd McCarthy. “Once he got (to the lead), we got some soft fractions, and when I asked him off the turn, he had a good kick.”

As the 3-5 favorite, Practical Man, who is owned by Joseph Smith, returned $3.20 to his backers.

A LITTLE MORE: For a third consecutive Friday night, Braxten Boyd recorded four winners to be the top gun among the drivers. … Dave Little had another big Friday night. A week ago, The Big M TV veteran gave out eight winners, and ended the night one winner short of equaling that feat, selecting seven on top. … Chase Vandervort, the veteran horseman known to New Jersey regulars for his years at Freehold Raceway, recorded his first-ever driving win at The Meadowlands after guiding Mr Grant ($8.60 to win) to victory lane in the 10^th race. … All-source handle on the 14-race card totaled $2,586,975. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:35 p.m., the program features the start of the track’s Championship Meet with the Dexter Cup (open) and Lady Suffolk (fillies) for 3-year-old trotters.

PHOTO: Practical Man and driver Todd McCarthy won the Friday night feature at The Meadowlands. (Credit: Lisa Photo)