A field of nine trotters will be facing the starter at the Meadowlands Racetrack this Saturday (September 9) and Hyway Marcus will be looking to repeat in the $5,000 Bill Weaver Memorial Trot, which is the second leg of the RUS MidAtlantic Monte Series.
A field of nine trotters will be facing the starter at the Meadowlands Racetrack this Saturday (September 9) and Hyway Marcus will be looking to repeat in the $5,000 Bill Weaver Memorial Trot, which is the second leg of the RUS MidAtlantic Monte Series. The race will be contested as a non-wagering event after the third race on the evening program.
In the first leg of the series, Hyway Marcus won comfortably in 2:02.1 at Ocean Downs. Four new horses will be joining the fray in addition to those returning from the August 20 race. This week, the six-year-old son of Gut Instinct will start from Post 4 and will be ridden by Sash Moczulski.
Looking to upend the first leg winner will be The Franchise, who will be is making his first purse start of the year after having won his qualifier at Saratoga back on August 11. The Franchise will start from Post 2 with Michelle Crawford. The duo will be looking to score a minor upset.
Also looking to be a threat will be Keenan (to be ridden by Maria Buchanan) who will start from Post 7. Keenan finished second to Hyway Marcus in his last start; and with an earlier move may be in the thick of things at the wire. Catalyst (Post 6, Stephanie Jacobs) finished third in the first leg of the series, but must be respected, as it was his first RUS start in two years (he had qualified ten days earlier in 2:01 at Ocean Downs).
Pine Tab (Post 9, Helene Gregory) was scratched ‘sick’ out of the first leg, but qualified in 2:00.1 back on June 12 at Gaitway Farms. Being this will the first RUS purse start of his career, it will be interesting to see if he can return to his morning form.
Set to make his first start of the season is fan favorite Funny Photo (Post 5), who will be ridden by owner Sophie Engerran. With a lifetime record of 13-4-2-3 under saddle, he is a consistent horse. Last time at the Meadowlands, Funny Photo was a far-back second to Modest Prince, who established the North American race record of 1:56.3 in that race.
Also set to compete Saturday are returnees One True Friend (Post 1, Hillary Hartnett) and Admirable Hanover (Post 3, Vanessa Karlewicz), who are being joined by Mr Protab (Post 8, Emma Wahlberg), who will make his 2017 debut.
The Bill Weaver Memorial Trot is in memory of breeder-owner William Weaver III who passed away earlier this year. His forte was breeding trotters and he was a supporter of racing under saddle.
Post time Saturday evening is 7:15 PM.
(RUS MidAtlantic)