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

LAST WEEK OF SUMMER SCHEDULE

Hollywood Casino at The Meadows will follow its regular summer racing schedule this week. Action will take place at 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, 5:10 p.m. Friday, and 12:45 p.m. Saturday. This will be the final Friday evening card of the summer. There will be one additional Friday “under the lights” in 2023 on Oct. 13.

STALLION SERIES CHAMPIONSHIPS SET FOR FRIDAY

The Friday evening card this week will feature eight $40,000 finals of the Pennsylvania Stallion Series for 2- and 3-year-old trotters and pacers. Horses have earned points in four legs of the series this summer which took place at all three PA pari-mutuel tracks. The draw will take place on Tuesday morning, but the plan is for all eight races to be placed consecutively on the card.

SPECIAL PICK-8 ON FRIDAY

The eight-race Stallion Series Championship sequence will comprise a special Pick-8 on the Friday card. The wager will feature a low 15 percent takeout, with a 20-cent minimum wager. In cooperation with the U.S. Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program and the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association, The Meadows will guarantee the pool to $5,000.

FIVE-WIN WEEK LIFTS PRESTO STABLE

Trainer Brandon Presto entered last week with 66 wins, tied for third best at The Meadows. A five-victory week has now boosted him into sole possession of third in the trainer standings (71), behind Ron Burke (185) and Dirk Simpson (79). Presto’s horses have won 18 percent of their starts in 2023. His most notable win for the week was with So Rockin Ravi in a 10,000 claimer. The win was perhaps more notable for the fact that it was driver Aaron Merriman’s 15,000th career driving win, achieved on Saturday (Sept. 2).