Washington, PA – Here is this week’s Meadows Monday Memo.
CARRYOVER/GUARANTEED POOLS THIS WEDNESDAY
There were no winning tickets in the Pentafecta this past Saturday at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, resulting in a carryover of more than $3,300. In conjunction with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program and the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association, The Meadows will offer a $15,000 guaranteed pool for Wednesday’s (March 4) Pentafecta, which will be Race 13 on the card. A second guaranteed pool will also be offered, a $5,000 guarantee on the Pick-5, which consists of races 9-13 and has a carryover of more than $1,000.
FIVE-YEAR WIN STREAK ENDS
It took more than five years, but a one of the longest-standing win streaks in the sport has come to an end. Despite being unsuccessful in getting the victory this past Friday, it was still a win of sorts for trotter Mallard Hanover, simply by getting back to the races. The now 8-year-old only raced five times early in his career, the last of which was in May 2021. He won that day, as he had done in all of his previous efforts. He also set a lifetime mark at Hoosier Park of 1:52.4 for trainer John Butenschoen, but an injury ended his season prematurely, with a lifetime record of five wins in five starts. He attempted a comeback in 2022, but posted a slow time in a qualifier and never raced in a pari-mutuel event. On Feb. 18 of this year, after spending several years in Amish country as a working horse, Mallard Hanover faced a starting gate for the first time since 2021. New trainer Eric Miller guided the Swan For All gelding to a qualifying win at The Meadows in 1:57.3 in his return to action after nearly 57 months off, leading up to last weekend’s pari-mutuel race.
CUSHING MAKES LOCAL DEBUT
Mitch Cushing is the latest addition to The Meadows’ driving colony. The 28-year-old reinsman picked up a few catch drives and entered one from his own stable this past Friday afternoon.
GREENE TROTTING SERIES STARTS WEDNESDAY
The first event of the annual Spring Early Closer Series, always a precursor to stake season, gets underway this Wednesday. Race 5 on the card is the first leg of the Corwyn & Sandie Greene Memorial Trot for colts and geldings. A field of eight has drawn into the race, which is the first of two series legs, each for a purse of $10,000. The series final will go for $15,000 plus added money. The series is named for the Greenes, who were fixtures at The Meadows for many years. Corwyn was the longtime track superintendent, while wife Sandie spent several years at the in-house PA announcer and was a pioneer among female race callers, filling in for Roger Huston for several years.
THREE DAYS OF RACING THIS WEEK
Hollywood Casino at The Meadows is currently in its winter three-day-per-week schedule, with racing on Wednesday through Friday afternoons at 12:45 p.m. (ET). Thirteen races are carded for this Wednesday.