One of the trainers of a starter in Saturday's eliminations for the Hambletonian has stated that his charge is "neurotic," but that he makes up for that condition with his
raw talent.
Big Sky Storm, a Hambletonian hopeful trained by Chris Marino, will compete for a spot in the $1.5 million final in one of two $70,000 eliminations on Saturday night at Meadowlands. Big Sky Storm will start from Post 3 in the first of the two elims, Race 5, with David Miller at the lines.
"This horse has really high speed, but he's a bit on the neurotic side," Marino said. "But, he's got a lot of talent. We've had a lot of issues with his bridle. We're constantly making equipment changes on this horse. He sees things so he wears a flap over his nose with fringe that moves around to keep him from looking around. He doesn't concentrate well. It keeps is attention and it's seemed to have helped him quite a bit."
Big Sky Storm enters the Hambletonian eliminations after being nipped in the final strides of a New Jersey Sire Stakes event on July 22 by VC Chocoholic. The son of Classic Photo--Big Sky Angel won his first two career starts and has hit the board in six of 13 efforts overall. Domenico Costagliola of Point Pleasant, New Jersey is the owner and breeder of the colt. In addition to his investments in the racing business, Costagliola owns Vesuvio Pizza in Point Pleasant Boro, New Jersey.
"He also owns the farm Big Sky Farm and he's been in the horse business for about 30 years," Marino noted. "I've raced Big Sky Storm's grandmother, his mother, his sisters. I've had the whole family. Domenico has owned them all. He's a great guy. Every year he pays something into either the Hambletonian or the Oaks. We're feeling a little more confident this year."
(Meadowlands)
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