Meadows Monday Memo

FRESHMEN DEBUT TUESDAY

The first two-year-old trotters and pacers of the harness racing season will make their debut on the track on Tuesday morning at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.  Among the five qualifying races at 11AM will be two events designated just for freshmen.  Race 1 will feature five trotters.  Three of the five are sired by Greenshoe, one by Andover Hall, and one by International Moni.  Four of the five entrants are trained by Tommy Loughry, while Sarah Andrews trains the fifth.

Race 2 will feature a field of six pacers, representing five sires:  Stay Hungry (2), Sweet Lou, Well Said, Lost In Time and Heston Blue Chip. Andrews, Mitchell York and Scott Betts each train two.  Qualifiers can be watched live on the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association Facebook page and are archived the next day at youtube.com/themsoa.

4-DAY SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

After taking a day off for the Greater Pittsburgh Food Truck Festival, live racing at The Meadows returns to its regular 4-day a week schedule this week. Racing will take place Wednesday and Thursday at 12:45, Friday evening at 5:10, and Saturday at 12:45.  Friday evening’s card will feature 3-year-old Pennsylvania Sire Stake and PA Stallion Series races for trotting colts.

PRESTO GAINING GROUND

Another strong week by trainer Brandon Presto has now placed him just 11 wins out of first place in wins among Meadows conditioners.  Presto now has 53 wins this year and trails Mickey Burke Jr, who has 64.  Dirk Simpson (36) is third, followed by Johnny Yoder (28).  Ron Burke and Tim Twaddle are tied for fifth with 27 wins each.  Presto’s horses have won at a 22.7% clip this year.

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