TETRICK TALLIES 4 AT BIG M

Saturday, April 8, 2023

The big man on campus Friday night at The Meadowlands was Tim Tetrick, as the 41-year-old Hall of Fame driver recorded four victories on the 14-race card.

Tetrick was actually four out of 11 on the night, as three of the dashes were exclusively for members of the Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club.

“The Bionic Man” registered his first win of the night behind The Empress Ice, who took the $20,000 division of the second leg of the Standardbred Retirement Foundation series for 3-year-old fillies on the trot.

The Empress Ice stopped the clock in 1:55.3 to register her first-ever win from seven career outings for trainer Nifty Norman, taking down heavy favorite Sheer Faith, who lost a second straight start as the 1-5 public choice.

“I really didn’t want to leave with her,” said Tetrick, who has now won nine races over the last three Big M cards. “But I was afraid if I didn’t, the pace would be too slow (to come from off the pace).”

A daughter of Muscle Hill-The Ice Queen, The Empress Ice returned $7.20 to her backers as the 5-2 second choice in the betting, winning by an easy 2 lengths. Sheer Faith settled for second for a second consecutive start.

The remainder of Tetrick’s big night came with winner’s circle visits guiding Horoscope ($4.60 to win as the 6-5 favorite) in the seventh race; Platinum As ($3.00 as the 1-2 public choice) in the 10^th; and Unstoppable Hall ($5.40 as the 8-5 second choice) in the 11^th.

THAT GIRL IS SUPER: Super Girl (Downbytheseaside-Symphony In Motion) followed up a narrow head victory a week ago with a dominant 5½-length walk in the park in another $20,000 SRF series dash, this one the second leg division for 3-year-old fillies on the pace.

The Mark Harder student was driven by Todd McCarthy to her third win in eight career starts in 1:51.1, in this, her first year on the track.

Super Girl returned $3.00 as the 1-2 favorite.

THE STREAK LIVES: All-source wagering totaled $3,070,369, keeping an impressive Big M betting streak alive.

There have been 26 Friday and Saturday night programs contested at The Meadowlands during 2023, and each one has seen betting bust the $3-million barrier.

During 2022, there were a total of 85 race cards contested at the mile oval, and betting went past the $3-million plateau on 23 occasions.

A LITTLE MORE: Only three favorites hit victory lane on the program, serving as the catalyst for big payouts in the 20-cent Pick-5 ($10,958.00), Early 50-cent Pick-4 ($1,789.30), 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 ($9,881.68) and 20-cent Pick-6 ($2,954.86). … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.

PHOTO: The Empress Ice takes the second leg of the Standardbred Retirement Foundation series for 3-year-old fillies on the trot at The Meadowlands Friday night, one of four winners on the card for driver Tim Tetrick. (Credit: Lisa Photo)