Storm Is Raging endured a demanding opening panel but made it look easy from there, rolling to his fourth straight victory in a $9,800 conditioned trot, one of a quartet of co-features on Thursday’s card at The Meadows.
Storm Is Raging was forced to a :27.4 first quarter before he could cross over. But when Aaron Merriman gave the three-year-old Explosive Matter-Paulette Revere gelding a 30 second-panel breather, there was no touching him. He opened up through the final turn and triumphed in 1:55.2 — matching his career-best — 4-1/4 lengths better than Poker Play. Alpina earned show.
Carl Cocciolone trains Storm Is Raging and owns with Mark Sosovicka and Jack Piatt III.
Also taking co-features were Gold Stones, Named And Blamed and Out On Bail.
Mike Wilder piloted three winners on the 12-card, including a pair for trainer Scott Betts.
Live racing at The Meadows continues Friday when the 13-race program features a pair of stakes for freshman colt & gelding trotters: a $156,720 Pennsylvania Sires Stake and a $40,000 PA Stallion Series event. On the wagering front, the card offers a $7,308.59 carryover in the final-race Super Hi-5. First post is 12:45 p.m.
(MSOA)