by Adam Packard, for the Meadows
Meadow Lands, PA –– The Meadows will offer 15 races on its Saturday night racing card. The card is highlighted by the $7,700 Fillies and Mares Open Trot and the $12,000 Preferred Pace.
Western Millennium is the 3-1 morning line favorite in the Preferred Pace for driver Ray Paver. Paver gave Western Millennium a perfect trip in last week’s Preferred en route to their victory in 1:53.3. Gail Nigro, Jacob Ramsburg, and Troy McDougal own the seven-year-old son of Western Hanover.
Western Millennium is a versatile horse that can leave for early positioning, like he did last week, or come from off the pace. Along with being versatile he’s a very consistent horse, making the board in 63 percent of his starts over the past two seasons, which is by far the best percentage of this group.
Sports Fantasy finished second in last week’s Preferred, missing by three-quarters of a length. Dave Palone drove him in his only two starts at The Meadows for trainer Randy Bendis, but Palone opted for Coastocoast Yankee. Doug Snyder got the call and will leave from post position seven. In both of his Meadows starts, Sports Fantasy has been the pacesetter.
Cam’s Fast Gun had a rough first over trip in his Meadows return last week. He still managed to finish third for Mike Wilder. Wilder will drive again this week and leave from post position six. In three of his last four starts in this class, Cam’s Fast Gun has been the betting favorite. They are 4-1 on the morning line.
An edge play might be Coastocoast Yankee and Dave Palone. After some dull efforts at Balmoral Park and Northfield Park, Coastocoast Yankee showed improvement in the Buckeye–Wolverine Classic at Raceway Park last week. The four-year-old son of Artsplace has a mark of 1:49.3 set at Hawthorne earlier in the year, so he is definitely capable of winning against this group.
Post time is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. (EST).