Meadows Monday Memo

HARNESS RACING FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

We will race Wednesday, Thursday this week at 12:45.  This Friday (May 26) is our first “Friday Night Lights” event of the summer season.  Post time on Fridays will now be 5:10PM.  This Friday is a special night at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, as it is the kickoff to the annual Food Truck Festival.  Due to that event, we will not race live this Saturday, May 27.  Our 4-day/week racing schedule will resume next week.

SIMPSON STABLE STARS

Trainer Dirk Simpson’s barn is sharp right now at The Meadows, posting 8 wins in 19 starts over the last 5 cards.  His UTRS rating jumped from .299 to .316 during that stretch.  With 47 wins in 281 starts for the season, Simpson is second in both categories, only trailing Ron Burke (92 for 310).  Burke also had a strong 5-card stretch, with 8 wins in 19 starts during the same period.

MULLET BARN IN FINE FORM

Among smaller stables, Lester Mullet started 12 horses over the past 5 cards, with 4 wins, 4 seconds and one third place finish.  His winners included Crazy Supersport, who has now won 2 in a row, including a career-best 152.3, just 3/5 of a second shy of the track record for 4YO trotting stallions.   Crazy Supersport is a son of Sebastian K.  Another Mullet trainee, Marlboro Seelster, set a new mark last week by pacing in 1:51.2, winning by 12 lengths in a $20,000 conditioned claiming pace.  Marlboro Seelster, a 5YO Bettor’s Delight gelding, has the pedigree, as he was a $270,000 yearling four years ago.

WILDER, INDOF HAVE STRONG WEEKS

Among drivers, Mike Wilder posted 11 wins in the last 5 cards, while Jeremy Indof recorded 9.  Wilder was 11-for-51 (21.5%) while Indof was 9-for-40 (22.5%).  Indof is 5^th overall in wins for the season with 64, while Wilder has 56 despite not driving the first three months of the year.  Dave Palone (132), Ronnie Wrenn Jr (106), Aaron Merriman (87) and Hunter Myers (71) are the top four.

SHORT LEGS, FAST ACTION

The always-popular Wiener Dog Races will take place this Friday evening at The Meadows in between races of the regular card.  The Dachshunds will take to the track after races 3, 4 and 5 on Friday evening for the preliminary heats, with the final taking place after the 7^th race of the card.  Unfortunately, they will be non-wagering events!

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