Meadows Monday Memo

THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE

Hollywood Casino at The Meadows will be racing its regular summer schedule this week, with harness racing action on Wednesday and Thursday at 12:45, Friday evening at 5:10, and Saturday afternoon at 12:45.

HIGH PERCENTAGE TRAINERS SQUARE OFF

The racing week will kick off with a top-level pace on Wednesday afternoon featuring six horses trained by some of the region’s best conditioners.  In the Filly & Mare Open Pace, which carries a purse of $19,300, all six horses are trained by stables with Universal Trainer Rating System (UTRS) figures over .300.  Ron Burke (.434) trains both Coastal and Crème Delight, while Bill Bercury, trainer of Blue Ivy, sports a .362 score.  Randy Bendis, conditioner of Lydeo, sits at .315, while Michael Hall, who has entered by Darby Hanover and Dewitt For Josey, has a UTRS of .301.  Dewitt For Josey, 2-for-2 locally and owner of a track record set on July 12 (1:49.3) is the morning line favorite at 9-5.

TROTS, TROTS, AND MORE TROTS

The card last Friday at The Meadows was a bit unusual, featuring 12 trot races…out of 12 races on the card.  Records are not kept on the subject, so it is unknown if it is the track’s first-ever “all trot” racing program.  It is highly unusual to say the least.  This Thursday’s card, while not an “all trot” card, will feature a total of 7 stake races for 2YO filly trotters.  There will be 5 divisions of the Pennsylvania Stallion Series, each for $20,000, and two $79,000 divisions of the Florida Pro PA Sire Stake.

by Jeff Zidek, for The Meadows