ere is this week’s Meadows Monday Memo.
Author: by Jeff Zidek, for Hollywood Casino at The Meadows
Proper One repeats Opening Night success at Harrington; Teague wins four
Louis Tomczak Jr.’s Proper One has a good record on opening night at Harrington Raceway, winning for the second straight year on the track’s opening night (Monday, April 10). His 1:55.1 triumph kicked off the southern Delaware raceway’s 77th season of harness racing in the first of 14 races on the program.
Series action dominates Monday Pocono card
The Monday (April 10) card at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania featured five divisions each of two ongoing series: the first preliminary of the Bobby Weiss Series for 3-year-old pacing fillies, and the second preliminary round of the Game Of Claims Pacing Series for horses who raced with a base tag of $12,500.
Topville Somrocket makes quick adjustment to Philly
Yonkers invader Topville Somrocket did not have an easy journey but still proved the best in the $13,500 featured pace Thursday (April 6) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, winning in 1:51.4.
Velocity Lady bests top Miami Valley mares
Velocity Lady, in just her third seasonal start, captured the $27,000 Mares Open at Miami Valley on Thursday (April 6). An 8-time winner in 2022, the 6-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight missed her career best by just two-fifths of a second, winning in 1:50.1.
Northville Downs opens 2023 stand Friday
Northville Downs kicks off their 2023 meet this weekend, with live racing on Friday (April 7) and Saturday (April 8).
Pantaleano, Betts tops in Game Of Claims trot
Driver Jim Pantaleano won three of Tuesday’s (April 4) five $20,000 first-round divisions of the Game Of Claims Series for $25,000 trotters — two of them trained by Scott Betts — at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
Fourth-round Borgata showdowns set
The fourth of five MGM Borgata Pacing Series preliminary rounds will be featured next Monday night (April 10) at MGM Yonkers Raceway. Twenty horses were entered for this leg, resulting in three $50,000 divisions (races three, six and eight).
Warren wins six on Shenandoah opening weekend
The first ever spring harness season at Shenandoah Downs kicked off Saturday (April 1) as local trainer Betsy Brown reached the winner’s circle in the initial race with Terry’s Watching, runner-up in the 2022 Virginia Breeders 2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Trot Championship. Todd Warren drove the Charlie De Vie gelding in his first start this year for locally-based owner James Brown.
Heinikin Bythebay upsets at Dover; Morgan, Columbo take meet titles
Heinikin Bythebay held off a late challenge from 3-2 favorite Island Of The Sea to win the final $27,500 Blue Hen/Open Handicap Pace of the 2022-23 season at Bally’s Dover and spring a 10-1 upset in the closing night (Thursday, March 30) feature.