A six-race maiden entering the fray, Massive Storm powered to the lead, re-seated his only challenger and sailed home in 1:58.4, fastest of three $12,500 divisions in Wednesday’s opening leg of a late-closing series for freshman colt and gelding trotters at The Meadows. Red Maple Lane and Sixteen Encores took the other splits.

With Massive Storm on the front near the three-eighths, Cue Hall pulled the pocket and attacked the leader. Massive Storm and Dave Palone accelerated, forcing Cue Hall back to the cones. The Muscle Massive-Stormy Valentine gelding went on to down Cue Hall by two and three-quarter lengths, while Grana Padanno rallied from last for show. Jeff Bolyard trains Massive Storm for Donald Bolyard.

Looped from the gate, Sixteen Encores still made the lead comfortably and drew off to defeat Guy Fox by six and three-quarter lengths in 1:59.2 for Tony Hall, trainer Rich Gillock and Bob Key, who bred and owns the son of Encore Encore-Sweetsixteenkarets. Mmmmgood completed the ticket.

Red Maple Lane had a similar easy time of it on the front end, prevailing in 1:59.4 for Doug Snyder. The pocket-sitting Bambam Lauxmont was second, two and three-quarter lengths back, with Game Challenge a distant third. Lisa Martin conditions the SJs Caviar-Lane Bryant gelding for Mary Martin, Roger Dirlam and Maple Ridge Stable of Pennsylvania.

(The Meadows)