Washington, PA — Here is this week’s Meadows Monday Memo.
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL COMEBACK
Last week in this space, it was noted that Distant Drums, a 5-year-old son of Trixton, extended his unbeaten streak to nine races for trainer Sarah Andrews after missing all of 2023.
Now, another horse that had been away from racing since 2022 has started a similar streak. South Port, a 5-year-old gelding by Archangel, raced only four times in his career through his sophomore season. The final race of his 3-year-old campaign was on Aug. 9, 2022 at Mohawk. He reappeared more than 25 months later, in a qualifier at The Meadows on Sept. 24, 2024 for trainer Nate Bresnahan. Since then, he has won all three of his pari-mutuel starts, in 1:57.1, 1:58.4, and a new lifetime mark of 1:56.4 on Oct. 23.
The similarities with Distant Drums don’t end with the time off and the successful return. Despite racing for two different trainers, both Distant Drums and South Port were brought back to the races by owner Matt Miller of Cochranton, Pa. Miller purchased both from Amish auctions, as both spent 2023 as buggy horses.
Both trotters will try to extend their streaks this week. South Port has post two in the eighth race on Wednesday, while Distant Drums will go for his 10th straight win at The Meadows on Thursday, leaving from post seven in the ninth race. He will be looking to rebound from a tenth place finish Oct. 25 at Dayton Raceway.
PRESTO REACHES 100
For the first time in his training career, Brandon Presto has reached the 100-win plateau at The Meadows. Presto entered last Friday’s card with 98 local wins, but victories in races four, five and eight pushed him above and beyond the mark, with Mantador’s race five win counting as No. 100 on the season. His success as a trainer has benefitted numerous drivers this season, including on Friday, when Hunter Myers, Dave Palone and Jeremy Indof drove the three winners. Presto, who currently sits second in wins this year at The Meadows behind Ron Burke (161) posted 62 local wins in 2022, and 94 in 2023.
THREE DAY RACING SCHEDULE
The Meadows is now into its fall racing schedule, with three days of racing per week. This week we are racing Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons at 12:45 p.m.