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

RACING SCHEDULE

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

QUALIFYING ACTION PICKING UP

As we get closer to Spring, The Meadows is seeing an increase in horses returning to action after taking time off during the fall/winter months. On Tuesday (Jan. 31), five qualifying races will take place, with a total of 32 horses attempting to make their way back to racing action. Several are 3-year-olds, which are preparing for the Spring early/late closer series that will begin in less than six weeks.

DRIVING REPORT

Dave Palone (36 wins), Ronnie Wrenn Jr (26) and Jeremy Indof (19) continue to hold the top three spots in wins, as they have throughout the month of January. However, the battle to get into the top-three is heating up, with four drivers tied for fourth place with 11 wins. Aaron Merriman, Brady Brown, Ridge Warren and Hunter Myers are locked in a 4-way battle right now.

NOBLE MAKES STRONG DEBUT

18-year-old Koltin Noble made quite a debut at The Meadows on Friday (January 27). In his first-ever drive at The Meadows, he was aggressive out of the gate with the 7-year-old gelding Farmers Only, putting the 18-1 shot on the front end in a $7,000 conditioned pace. The horse held off a strong challenge in the third quarter and won in 1:55.2, returning $39.80 for the win ticket. Later in the day, Noble, a fifth-generation horseman from Ohio, drove 4-1 shot Jim Rocks in a $7,800 conditioned pace and once again headed to the front out of the gate. He eventually finished second to the pocket-sitting favorite, Miki Minaj. Both of Noble’s drives were for trainer Brandon Presto.