Washington, PA — Here is this week’s Meadows Monday Memo.

RACING SCHEDULE 
We remain in our winter three-day-per-week racing schedule, Wednesday through Friday afternoons at 12:45 p.m. This schedule will remain in place through the end of March.

PALONE EXTENDS ADVANTAGE
Driver Dave Palone extended his advantage over Ronnie Wrenn Jr. this past week, with Palone driving five winners to give him 60 for the season. Wrenn did not drive during the week, remaining at 49 wins. The top driver for the week at The Meadows was Ridge Warren, who tallied six winners in three race cards. Aaron Merriman and Hunter Myers joined Palone with five victories.

SERIES RACES STARTING SOON
March 8 will be the first day for the Spring Series events at The Meadows. A total of 98 horses were nominated to the four series events that are the prelude to stake season. On March 8, the first leg of the Donna Dunn Memorial for 3- and 4-year-old pacing fillies/mares will begin, with 17 horses nominated. The next day, it will be the first leg for the Dale McConnell Memorial (3- and 4-year-old male trotters) and Mary Wohlmuth Memorial (3- and 4-year-old female trotters). The McConnell event drew 26 nominations, with 23 entered in the Wohlmuth Trot. On March 10, the 3- and 4-year-old male pacers will start the Wilbur Zendt Memorial. A total of 32 were nominated to that series.

3-YEAR-OLDS MAKING THEIR RETURNS
Over the past couple of weeks, The Meadows has seen an increase in the number of qualifying races held, as horses that concluded their 2-year-old seasons in the fall are beginning to make their return for their sophomore campaigns. Last Tuesday, 12 3-year-olds made their return among the fields in six qualifying races. This Tuesday (Feb. 28), a total of five qualifying races are slated, with 16 3-year-olds set to attempt to get back to the races. Many of those qualifying were nominated to the March series events noted above.

WATCH QUALIFIERS LIVE
Qualifying races can be viewed live every Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. on the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association Facebook page. They are also archived on the Facebook page, as well as on YouTube, at youtube.com/themsoa.