Joyful exploded past the leader with an uncovered backside brush and went on to capture his division in Tuesday’s opening leg of the Ken Weaver Memorial Trot at The Meadows. DDs Comet, a seven-race maiden entering the day, took the other $12,500 division in the series for three and four-year-old colts, stallions and geldings.

The event honours the memory of the late Ken Weaver, a trainer/driver who was a fixture at The Meadows and on the Pennsylvania Fairs circuit.

Joyful was third when Naquel Harvey sent him after Bourdain on the front. He cleared easily and drew off to prevail in 1:59.3 over a sloppy surface. Bourdain saved place, two and a half lengths back, while Claire And Kenny rallied for show. Doug Hamilton trains and owns the four-year-old Conway Hall-Joy To The World gelding.

In the $18,000 Filly & Mare Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Trot, Bessie made it three straight when she survived a demanding opening quarter and poured it on late to score in 1:56.3, three-quarters of a length better than Barn Girl. Classic Belisima earned show.

Jim Pantaleano piloted the six-year-old daughter of Equinox Bi-Cantabs Chorine, who now boasts a lifetime bankroll of $289,360, for trainer Rick Clapper and owners Paula Clapper, Umholtz Racing Stable and Kennedy Sports Corp. It was one of three wins for Pantaleano on the 13-race card.

Prompted by a three-day carryover of $19,578.12, The Meadows Racetrack & Casino has established a $50,000 total-pool guarantee for its Pick 5 wager on Wednesday, March 8. The guarantee, one of the largest in track history, is offered as part of the United States Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering Initiative.

In addition, Wednesday’s card includes a $5,000 total-pool guarantee for the Pick 4, a regular feature of each program at The Meadows.

Minimum wager for the Pick 4 (races four through seven) and Pick 5 (races eight through 12) is 50 cents. Since Pennsylvania law requires a minimum per-race wager of $2, a player wagering at the 50-cent level must bet at least four tickets.

First post for Wednesday’s program is 1 p.m.

(The Meadows)