by Jeff Zidek, for the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association

Washington, PA — The Meadows hosted its first qualifying races for 2-year-olds on Friday (May 30), with five events, part of a 16-race qualifying card.

Fiesta Lauxmont, trained by Ted Williams and driven by Aaron Johnston, became the first freshman to take a mark at the track this season, winning in 2:03.4. Fiesta Lauxmont is an Art’s Card Trick filly out of the Rustler Hanover mare Party N Canada.

The first 2-year-old trotter to earn a win did it in impressive fashion, as McMullen Stable’s Mercer County won by more than 21 lengths in 2:04.4 with a final quarter of :29.4. An Explosive Matter filly out of the Lindy Lane mare Aspen Hanover, Mercer County is trained and was driven by Wilbur Yoder.

Light After Terror, a Western Terror colt out of the Dream Away mare Light Dreams, became the fastest freshman of the session with a 2:03 win for trainer Jason Bresnahan and driver Brady Brown.

Other 2-year-old winners were Alpha Alpha, a trotting filly by Encore Encore out of the Pegasus Spur mare Pegasus On Ice, who trotted in 2:08.2 (:30.1) for Yoder and trainer Rich Gillock and another Western Terror youngster, Given Up Terror, who won the final event in 2:04.2 with a :29 final quarter. The colt was driven by Tony Hall for trainer Lisa Beinhauer. Given Up Terror is out of the mare Ain’t Given Up, by Jenna’s Beach Boy.

To watch all of the qualifiers, click here.