STRATTON WINS THREE AT BIG M

Saturday, January 6, 2024

Jordan Stratton had the hot hand Friday night at The Meadowlands, as the 36-year-old pilot led the driver colony with three winners from his 12 starters on the card.

Windsun Mojito, a 5-year-old by He’s Watching-Artistic Melody, gave Stratton his first winner of the night in the second race in 1:53.1 in a TrackMaster 74 fillies and mares pace. Jordan’s brother Cory trained the winner, who returned $4.60 to her backers as the 6-5 public choice.

“There was a speedball up front,” said Jordan. “She came off cover and won pretty handily.”

The amazing Sgt Papa Daddy recorded his third straight win at the $7,500 claiming pace level in 1:52.3 for the brothers Stratton. The 10-year-old gelded son of Rockin Image-Little Tootsie returned $2.40 as the 1-5 favorite in the seventh race.

“He’s been around for a long time,” said Jordan. “He’s as sharp as can be. Cory has a great eye for claimers.”

The sport’s hottest claiming commodity was taken for a third straight race, this time by trainer Ron Harmon, and if he wins next week, that would be four straight victories in four different barns.

Jordan’s third and final win of the night came with the Anette Lorentzon-trained Some Chapter in the 10th. The 7-year-old gelded son of Chapter Seven-Some Kinda Special scored in the featured mid-range conditioned trot in 1:54.2, paying $3.80 as the 4-5 chalk.

“I was a little surprised at how heavy he was favored because he’d been off for more than a month,” said Jordan. “But he has a history of racing at The Meadowlands and he loves to trot home.”

It could have been a monster night for Jordan, who finished second four times on the card, which included missing a nose with Shinkansen in the third race and Plzdontlietome N in the 13^th.

“Shinkansen got used hard out of the gate and got rough on the far turn,” said Jordan. “I drove Plzdontlietome N like a 3-5 shot and it didn’t work out.”

Jordan, whose 220 wins were good for fourth in the Yonkers driver colony during 2023, also did some good work at The Big M last year, winning 49 races, which was ninth in the standings.

CARRY ON: Saturday night, multi-leg-bet lovers will have a pair of carryovers to shoot for.

The 20-cent Pick-8 failed to yield a winning ticket for a third straight program, creating a carryover of $5,022. Those with six correct collected $25.68.

The 20-cent Pick-6 will start out with $3,699 in the hat. Tickets with five winning selections were exchanged for $1,233.30.

A LITTLE MORE: Pat Lachance and Tyler Miller each drove a pair to victory lane. … Lachance matched Cory Stratton’s two training victories. … All-source handle on the 14-race card totaled $3,228,629. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.

PHOTO: Sgt Papa Daddy hits the winner’s circle for a third straight start Friday night at The Meadowlands, one of three victories on the night for driver Jordan Stratton. (Credit: Lisa Photo)