Meadows Monday memo

REGULAR SCHEDULE THIS WEEK, NIGHT RACING COMING SOON

The Meadows returns to its regular Spring schedule this week, with harness racing action Wednesday through Saturday at 12:45pm.  Next weekend, the Saturday (May 17) Preakness Day card will begin at 11:30am, and on May 23, Friday action will go “under the lights” for the summer, with a 5:10pm post.

FLYING IN THE NW1 LEVEL

While records regarding individual classes aren’t kept, the mile by trotter Bacchus (Tactical Landing) was certainly a special one this past Thursday.  The sophomore gelding trotter covered the mile in 1:54.2 in a non-winners of 1 race lifetime event.  By comparison, another division of that class on Thursday went in 1:58.3 and other recent times in that level have been closer to the 2:00 range.  Bacchus was making his second start of the year for trainer Vernon Beachy, and the 11^th of the Tactical Landing gelding’s career.  It was his first victory and only the second time the horse had hit the board in his career.  Ronnie Wrenn drove the winner.

PIRILLO OVER .500

Trainer Justin Pirillo is off to the best start of his career at The Meadows.  He is tied for fourth in wins  with 30, but is well in front in other categories.  Pirillo has started just 86 horses this year, for a 34.9 winning percentage.  His UTRS trainer rating is .501, a full 70 points ahead of second-highest Ron Burke (.431).  Burke’s horses are winning at a 26.5% clip, second highest to the Pirillo barn.

FRIDAY STAKES

Stake racing action returns to The Meadows on Friday afternoon, as sophomore colt and gelding trotters will be featured in PA Sire Stake and PA Stallion Series stakes.  The entry box will close on Tuesday morning.

If you would like additional information at any point, please reach out to track announcer Jeff Zidek (jeff.zidek@pennentertainment.com)

by Jeff Zidek, for The Meadows