by Evan Pattak, for the Meadows

Meadow Lands, PA — The Meadows kicked off Grand Circuit week on Tuesday, August 5, with the spotlight on freshman filly trotters and pacers.

Perhaps the most impressive winner in the day’s nine Grand Circuit divisions was Caviar Forthe Lady, who captured her fourth consecutive stake. Charlie Norris, who piloted Caviar Forthe Lady, enjoyed a Grand Circuit double, as he also reined to victory a trotter he conditions, RS Giggles.

Grand Circuit action at The Meadows continues Thursday and Friday. However, due to racino construction at The Meadows, Pocono Downs on Saturday will host the week’s three closing events — the Gov. David Lawrence Arden Downs Pace, the Quinton L. Patterson Adioo Volo and the $500,000 Delvin Miller Adios.

$100,000 Judge Joe McGraw Arden Downs 2-year-old filly trot

Caviar Forthe Lady had won both her Pennsylvania Sires Stake legs and a division of the Reynolds. Tuesday, she was just as sharp but a bit more headstrong, according to trainer Marty Wollam.

“Her manners and disposition are tremendous,” Wollam said. “Charlie said today was the first time she really got aggressive off the gate. But she relaxed well, and everything worked out great.”

On a “good” track, Norris pushed her right to the lead, where she cruised to victory in 2:00.4, four lengths better than the closing Up Front Annika. Hall Of Wishes was third. Acadia Farms owns the daughter of S J’s Caviar-Croupier Lady, a $21,000 yearling acquisition.

Nordic Nymph trotted well in her five previous races but entered the Judge Joe McGraw a maiden. Wilbur Yoder took care of that when he sent the daughter of Broadway Hall-Armbro Norway on a decisive quarter-pole move. She scored in 2:01, with Northmedo Esther a gritty second and Daddy’s Lhasa third.

“I thought she was in where she belonged if things went right,” said Greg Wright, who trains the $42,000 yearling purchase for Jon Erdner. “She’s real sure footed, a little immature. But she has the makings of a nice filly.”

John Taylor, second trainer for Bruce Nickells, has plenty of good news to report to the boss; he drove Greathearted to a front-end victory in 2:01.3. The pocket-sitting Perfect Prelude was second by 1-1/4 lengths, with Rusty’s Centerfold third.

Greathearted was parked out the entire first panel, but Taylor said he wanted the daughter of Cantab Hall-Greatest Desire on top.

“It looked to me that if she could lead and catch a little breather, she’d be all right,” Taylor said. “She always has a big, strong pop on the end of it. One thing I like about this one: Nobody told her she’s small.”

Petrus Wolter owns Greathearted.

Noisy Nellie (Muscles Yankee-Armbro Volcano) also captured a Judge Joe McGraw division. Doug Snyder piloted her to a 2:02.2 score for owner Menhammar Stuteri AB.

$80,400 Fred Jamison Arden Downs 2-year-old filly pace

Mud Pie Hanover wasn’t the fastest or prettiest of the four divisional winners, but her victory was the most remarkable. She broke stride early, spotted the field 10 lengths and still charged home in 1:56.3, a career best. One Fast Filly was 1-1/2 lengths back in second while Save My Shark rallied for show.

“She has a lot of speed — that’s her problem,” said winning driver Greg Wright, Jr. “We’ve been having some problems with her behind the gate. She gets a little too anxious, but she has all the talent in the world. When she puts it all together, she’ll be the real deal.”

Gary Johnston trains the daughter of Allamerican Native-Mud Hen, who has been first or second in all eight lifetime starts, for Virginia Schoeffel, Kathy Schoeffel and Marian Schilling.

Singnoevil Hanover turned in the fastest split, prevailing in 1:55.4 for driver Mike Wilder, trainer Dan Altmeyer and the partnership of Altmeyer, Kelson, Waiter and Brown. Singnoevil Hanover reclaimed the lead after a representative first quarter in :27.2, then held off the late charge of Amazon Queen by a nose. Cams Van Go finished third.

“She’s a well-bred filly with good size,” Altmeyer said of the daughter of The Panderosa-Sing Flying Monkey, a $30,000 yearling acquisition. “We have her staked pretty good through the summer.”

Angel Ofthe West drew poorly in her first two starts and was hustled to the lead as a result. In the Fred Jamison, she left from post two and was unhurried for Duke Sugg, who moved her at the three-quarter pole. She triumphed in 1:57.4, 1-1/2 lengths ahead of Tidewater Misty, with Sabine’s Filly in third.

“She’s always had a lot of stamina,” said Sugg, who trains the daughter of Western Hanover-Crew Angel, a $22,000 yearling purchase, for the partnership of Sugg, Hutchison and Hutchison. “Training, jogging, you name it — after a mile, she’s never done. She has the stamina to be a good one.”

Harper Lee (Real Artist-Yankee Fresca) took the fourth Fred Jamison division in 1:56.3 for trainer/driver Todd Schadel, who co-owns the filly with Roger Hammer.

In the $23,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Trot, Winnie The Who made a triumphant return to the elite group when she wore down Whotookwhat to score in 1:56 for driver Dave Palone, trainer Mickey Burke and the partnership of Taylor, Feldman and Basen. Long a feared fast-class trotter in the region, the daughter of Emile Angus-Sunrise Drive needed to drop into conditioned races to regain her best form.