Broadway Schooner had trouble harnessing her talent at two, but she put it all together last night at the Meadows, scoring in a stakes record 1:54.3 in a division of a $248,110 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes for sophomore trotting fillies.
The event, known as the Meadow Bright, was contested over six divisions, with Whispering Wind, Musical Mystery, Pleasing Lady, SJs Minolta and Timelesswinner Two taking the other splits. Dave Palone fashioned a Meadow Bright driving double (Broadway Schooner, Timelesswinner Two), while Mike Lachance, Ron Gurfein and Brittany Farms enjoyed driving, training and owner doubles, respectively, in the stakes.
Broadway Schooner had won only once in nine career starts, but Palone sent the Arlene and Jules Siegel homebred daughter of Broadway Hall--Pine Schooner to the lead, which she retained without serious challenge. Caviar Forthe Lady was three and a quarter lengths back in second, with Give N Take third. The time erased the previous stakes record of 1:55 established by Michelles Angel and Palone in 2007.
“I never even popped the earplugs,” Palone said. “You don’t want to know how fast they can go until you have to, but let me assure you, she has wicked speed.”
Trainer Jim Campbell attributed the filly’s improvement to maturity and the dedication of her caretaker, Walter Teat.
“She had a problem last year putting everything together,” Campbell said. “She came back better this year, but we had a little setback when she was nearly ready and got sick. I’m especially happy because Walter worked so hard on her. To see the look on his face tonight, that was priceless.”
(With files from the Meadows)