Pennsylvania champion Stormin Normand made it six victories in seven career starts Wednesday at the Meadows by winning a Keystone Classic division under wraps
. When his stablemate, Fashion Astral, captured the other split in the $98,800 event for freshman colt and gelding trotters, it gave Dave Palone, trainer Jim Campbell and owner Fashion Farms a stakes sweep.
Stormin Normand was beaten a head in his career debut and hasn’t tasted defeat since. Although his victory Friday in 1:58.3 over a “good” surface wasn’t as sparkling as his 1:54.3 triumph in the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes Championship, it was a workmanlike performance at 1-5 odds that didn’t tax him.
“I geared him right down finishing,” Palone said. “He was well within himself. He’s just a perfect little horse to drive. He’s one of my favourites because he is so easy to drive, never makes a mistake and loves to do his work. To be truthful, I’ve never had to extend him yet.”
Overandovervictory was second, half a length back, while early leader Frost Bites K saved show. A son of Broadway Hall-Idole Normand, Stormin Normand now boasts career earnings of $269,643.
Fashion Astral, who has shown a preference for the early lead, altered his style and rated comfortably in the pocket, then powered by Redder Than Red to defeat that rival by three lengths in 1:57.4, a lifetime mark. Charles Ray rallied for show.
“The game plan was to get him to sit in a hole and relax,” Palone said. “That was objective number one, and he was fine tonight. Jim changed his rigging, and he was able to sit in the hole beautifully. When I moved him, he had plenty of go. I never took out his earplugs.”
The son of Broadway Hall-Armbo Astral has won four of six starts.
Palone drove four winners on the 16-race card while Mike Wilder and trainer Ron Burke enjoyed three-baggers. The Keystone Classic series at The Meadows concludes Friday with three divisions of a $92,998 stake for two-year-old filly trotters. First post is 6:55 p.m.
(The Meadows)