WASHINGTON, PA, Dec. 12, 2018 — Last in the field of six at the half, Kiwi Pres rallied through the lane and scored in Wednesday's Holiday Claiming Series for harness racing $20,000 claiming trotters at The Meadows. Campbellini took the other $15,000 opening-leg division.
Kiwi Pres trailed by 7-1/2 lengths when Dave Palone sent him on his trek to the front. The 7-year-old The Pres-Kristalvagen N gelding gobbled up the leader, Royal Surprise, at the top of the lane and held off the late-trotting Nothing But Muscle to defeat him by a length in 1:57.3. Invested In Lindy finished third. Thomas Stamper trains and owns Kiwi Pres, who lifted his lifetime bankroll to $152,190.
Campbellini stalked IC Caviar from the pocket, then roared by outside in deep stretch and downed him by a neck in 1:57.4, with Teddy Brosevelt third. Aaron Merriman piloted the 4-year-old Cantab Hall-Victory Jewel gelding for trainer Brewer Adams and owner Adams Racing LLC.
Wednesday's card also featured two $8,000 opening-leg splits of a Holiday Claiming Series for $10,000 claiming trotters, with Mutinyonthebounty and Fantasy Rocket taking the honors.
Jim Pantaleano collected three wins on the 13-race program.
The Meadows this week is kicking off six Holiday Claiming Series that conclude on a special New Year's Eve card that also features the career finale of Foiled Again, the richest Standardbred all time with earnings exceeding $7.5 million. First post Dec. 31 is 5:30 PM.
Live racing at The Meadows resumes at 1:05 PM Saturday, when the card includes a $1,436.13 Pick 5 carryover and a $778.50 carried-over jackpot in the final-race Super Hi 5.
In addition, the track and the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association (MSOA) will host their annual holiday party featuring handicapping contests, giveaways, games and a visit from everyone's favorite reinsman, Santa Claus. For more information or to register for any activities, stop by the MSOA table in the Racebook.
The Meadows Racetrack & Casino