Meadows Monday Memo

$1.2 MILLION ON THE LINE THURSDAY

Two-year-old harness racing Pennsylvania-breds will take center stage on Thursday afternoon at The Meadows, with more than $1.2 million in purses up for grabs in the PA Sire Stake Championships and Consolations.  Four $252,000 Finals will take place, along with four $50,000 consolations.  Horses earned points in four Sire Stake legs contested across the Commonwealth during the summer, and the top 8 in points were invited to compete in the finals.  Thursday’s first four races will be the PA Sire Stake Consolation events for those just missing the top events.  Post time for the card is 12:45pm.

REMATCH SET IN PASS 2FP

Race 5 on the card will be for freshmen filly pacers.  The Championship field will feature the rematch between Papi Grad (5-for-6, $154k in earnings) and Rose (4-for-5, $119k), along with Blessed Hanover (5-for-6, $123k).  Papi Grad, out of the Steve Carter barn, has drawn post 1, while the other two, both trained by Ron Burke, drew posts 2 (Blessed Hanover) and 6 (Rose).   Rose defeated Papi Grad at The Meadows on August 23, the first career loss for Papi Grad, who had post 7 that evening.

TOP FILLY TROTTERS DRAW SIDE-BY-SIDE

Race 6 on the Thursday card will be the Championship for 2YO filly trotters.  Two horses have dominated the ranks this summer, Divine Thing, trained by Steve Carter, and Princess Jackie, out of the DR Ackerman barn.  They have drawn posts 1 and 2, respectively, for the finals.  The duo has combined for 7 wins in 12 starts and more than $277,000 in earnings.

WINNERS MEET IN COLT FINAL

Race 8 on the Thursday card features the top freshmen colt trotters.  The division has seen a lot of parity this summer, with six of the eight finalists showing a win in top-level PASS company.  The top money-winner is Father TJ, out of the Jeff Cullipher Stable, now a winner of two straight.  The Father Patrick colt has drawn post 1.

BURKE STABLE SENDS THREE INTO COLT PACING FINAL

Race 9 on Thursday is the PASS Final for freshmen colt pacers, and the Ron Burke Stable has three of the eight entrants, TH Colby, Papi’s Rocket and Railroad Station.  TH Colby has the fastest win time in the group, a 1:50.1 clocking at The Meadows on August 16, and drew post 2.  The top money-winner in the race is the Ian Moore-trainee Prince Hal Hanover ($104k), leaving from post 7.

by Jeff Zidek, for The Meadows