When violent storms throughout Wednesday left The Meadows without electrical power, the track was forced to cancel the final eight races of its card. But the show — part of it, anyway — went on, as The Meadows, against the dwindling daylight, reeled off four divisions of an $80,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series for two-year-old colt and gelding trotters.
As often happens when the show goes on at The Meadows, it was “The Dave Palone Show.” The Hall of Famer won three splits behind Il Sogno Dream, Monkey Man and Broadway Phantom. G Force Hanover captured the other $20,000 division.
Il Sogno Dream rebounded from a break in his pari-mutuel debut by exploding from the pocket to triumph in the slop in 1:58.4. Poppy Sydney Ridge was second, six lengths back, with Kandy Korn third.
“He likes to look at everything,” said Chris Beaver, who conditions the son of Cantab Hall and La Reve for Ontario owners Bill Manes, Dan Manes, Leonard LC and Randy Christopher. “If he’s following horses, he’s all right, but if he’s on the front, he’s a little squirrely. I bought him for $40,000 on the last day at Lexington. I waited around for him. I thought he was one of the nicest horses in the sale.”
On the heels of his victory in a July 3 PA All Stars division, G Force Hanover blew away the field by 14-3/4 lengths for Doug Snyder in a 2:00.1 front-end romp. Eruption was second, followed by Dred Hanover.
“I told Doug, 'He’s a nice colt, he’ll be all right. Do what you can do,’” said winning trainer Clarence Martin Jr. of his $5,500 yearling purchase. “He had a fantastic video at Harrisburg. Why he brought only $5,500 I’ll never know, but I’ll take him any day.”
Mary Martin and Roger Dirlam own G Force Hanover, a Glidemaster-Gracejean Bluechip gelding.
After grabbing the early lead, Monkey Man had to overcome a serious shuffle, rallying for a 2:01.2 win in his career bow. Taurus Lauxmont was second, two and a quarter lengths in arrears, while Somebodyiusetono was fourth-placed-third.
“I was concerned about having to move him back to the front because he is so green,” Palone said. “He acted very green on the front, half pulling up. But when I asked him to go around the last turn, he responded, and I think he’ll make a nice colt.”
Mike Palone trains the Glidemaster-Armbro Vanity gelding, who was a $13,000 Harrisburg Sale yearling, for Brian Gillespie.
Larry Farley's Broadway Phantom won his pari-mutuel debut from the pocket in 1:59.3. Son Of A Ridge finished one length behind and Upfront Billy Boy was third.
The Broadway Hall-Luxury Bi gelding was an $8,000 Lexington Select Sale purchase and is trained by Steve Boroff.
Live racing at The Meadows resumes Friday, when the card features four divisions of a $260,844 PA Sires Stake for freshman colt and gelding trotters. First post is 6:55 p.m.
(With files from The Meadows)