Meadowlands: Trump Nation takes Saturday feature

Trump Nation benefitted from aggressive Yannick Gingras handling Saturday night to take the $37,500 featured Preferred for pacers at the Meadowlands.

The 5-year-old gelded son of Betterthancheddar-Late Flyin N was in a first-turn scrum with Sicily and Endeavor and raced second while parked to the quarter as Sicily led in a snappy 26 2/5. Trump Nation then sped to the top, but led only briefly, as Endeavor, the 3-5 favorite who was in search of a second straight score in the weekly feature, went past Trump Nation and hit the half in 54 1/5.

The pocket trip worked to perfection for Gingras and Trump Nation, as the duo ducked to the inside nearing the wire to nail a super-game Endeavor by a neck in 1:49 4/5. Franco Totem N was third.

“He raced big,” said Gingras of Trump Nation. “That’s the trip I was looking for tonight, but he can win no matter what the trip. He’s just a nice horse.”

Trump Nation, who races out of the Ron Burke barn, returned $7.80 to his backers as the second choice in the wagering. He’s now won 14-of-38 lifetime outings, good for earnings of $414,246 for owners Burke Racing Stable, E. Katz, Weaver Bruscemi and Purnel & Libby.

CHANGES WORKING WELL: Based on the big action that was taken on the 13-race program at the industry’s handle leader, it appears that the new earlier 6:55 p.m. post time and extensive wagering menu changes will be around for some time to come.

A total of $2,856,554 in bets were taken, the third-highest handle during 2020 at the mile oval. Wagering has now gone past the $2.5-million mark for five straight programs.

The action was hot and heavy from the get-go as a season’s-best $72,364 was put in play in the 20-cent Pick-5. The 20-cent Pick-6 pool saw an increase of 36 percent from its first offering Friday. Total play Saturday was $24,474, and one shrewd player who used 10-1 shot Americanfirewater in the payoff leg (race nine) walked away with $20,797.76.

Adding a second 50-cent Pick-4 appears to be a hit with the racing faithful. The Early Pick-4 saw a total pool of $86,015 while the Late P4 saw $61,934 in action, meaning that a total of $147,949 in Pick-4 bets were taken.

-edited release (Dave Little for Meadowlands)