Despite giving up the lead at the three-quarter pole, Graceful Sister managed to re-rally and capture the $32,000 final of the Closing Bell Trot
on Thursday afternoon at The Meadows.
Dave Palone and the three-year-old daughter of Yankee Glide were parked past the quarter pole in :28.3 before finding the front. Graceful Sister proceeded to trot the field to the mid-way point in :59.3 before overtaken by race favourite Elizabeth Lane in the third quarter.
That mare opened up at the third station in 1:27.3, but she couldn’t maintain the top spot. Graceful Sister found another gear in deep stretch and motored past Elisabeth Lane in the closing strides. The margin of victory was a half-length. Third prize went to Taboo Yankee.
Norm Parker conditions Graceful Sister, who now owns a 3-1-0 record in her first four starts of the season. The career winner of $57,204 is owned by her breeder, Robert Key, and partner John Glesmann.
“I think being passed like that was all part of Dave’s plan,” said Parker. “He thought Doug’s [Doug Snyder driving Elisabeth Lane] mare was the best, so he wanted to stretch her out a little bit. Our filly’s young, so he didn’t want to overuse her.
“She trotted in 1:58 as a two-year-old but never could finish that well,” Parker added. “We gave her some time off, and she’s trained back well. We’re looking for big things from her.”
(With quotes from The Meadows)