While most of harness racing's stars were in action on Hambletonian Day this past Saturday, one of the sport's brightest stars -- 2018 Hambletonian winner Atlanta -- was conspicuous by her absence on the stakes-laden card.

Many fans were hoping to see Atlanta in action in either the John Cashman Memorial for older trotters, or the Dr. John R. Steele Memorial for older trotting mare. Atlanta, who on July 6 became the fastest trotter in the history of Meadowlands Racetrack with a 1:49.1 win in the Graduate Series Final, sat on the sidelines for her connections.

The reason was, to coin a phrase made popular during the past NBA season, load management.

"She has too many starts left, so I skipped this week," trainer Ron Burke told Trot Insider.

Burke stated that Atlanta won't be out of action much longer, however, as she's being pointed for the Joie De Vie Trot at Tioga Downs this Sunday (August 11).

Owned by Crawford Farms Racing of Syracuse, N.Y., Brad Grant of Milton, Ont. Howard Taylor of Philadelphia, Penn., Atlanta (Chapter Seven - Hemi Blue Chip) boasts six wins from seven seasonal starts, is the sport's top-ranked trotter of 2019 and the fastest female trotter in the history of harness racing. Her only defeat of 2019 came in her recent outing on July 13 in the Hambletonian Maturity at the hands of Crystal Fashion, who won this past Saturday's Cashman Memorial.