by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows

MEADOW LANDS, PA, July 2, 2004—Up Front Norma paced a sizzling third quarter in :27.2, then rolled on to a stake record 1:54.2 in a division of the Sand Tart, a Pennsylvania Sires Stake for 2-year-old fillies, Friday at The Meadows.

Chris Gooden Photos

Up Front Norma with driver Dave Palone.

The event drew a record 60 entrants over 8 splits. Other divisional winners were Blueridge Mosaic, Sub Rosa Hanover, Passer Hanover, Easy on the Eyes, Any Price, Mississippi River and Hurrikane Nina. Dave Palone, The Meadows’ all-time leading stake winner, collected five of the victories.

Up Front Norma, sitting second at the half for Palone, pulled the pocket but was hard-pressed to clear the leader, Allamerican Apex with Dick Stillings, setting up that demanding third panel. But Up Front Norma was resolute.

“I didn’t expect to have to go that hard, but Dickie was racing me,” Palone said. “He had the second-best filly, and he probably thought that was his best chance of beating me, to race me. I had to earn my way around him.

“She’s major league no doubt about it. She’s professional, she’s a very relaxed filly until you ask on her. She’s one of the best 2-year-old pacing fillies I’ve ever sat behind, and I’ve sat behind some pretty nice fillies.”

A daughter of Dragon Again, Up Front Norma is trained by Kelly O’Donnell, who purchased 15 yearlings by Dragon Again—principally for owned C. Ed Mullinax—at prices ranging from $15,000 to $150,000, then added a Dragon Again home-bred yearling. So far, reports Mike Hollar, second trainer for O’Donnell, the big bet on Dragon Again is paying off.

“The good ones have risen right up and looked nice,” Hollar said. “It’s a good crop.”

Allamerican Apex was a strong second, 1 1-2 lengths back, with Blind Date in third. The previous Sand Tart mark, 1:55.1, was established by Western Wonder and Tom Sells in 1997.

Mississippi River flowed right on past her field with a powerful first-over move that carried her and Palone to victory in 1:56.2. A $17,000 yearling purchase, Mississippi River was making her pari-mutuel debut—and also her bow for her new owners, Deena Frost, Sampson St. Stable, TLP Stable and Jerry Silver. Peter Foley trained the filly for her previous owners and retained the assignment for the new group.

“I bought her for people in Michigan who previously turned down $200,000 for a filly a few years ago, only to have her break a bone,” Foley said. “They don’t turn down anything now. So when they got an offer, they sold her. She’s a top-bred filly, and she’s very willing.”

Second went to Powerball Fever, third to Silhouette.

Passer Hanover made an impressive career debut, scoring in 1:56.2, on the strength of a sustained first-over bid. The daughter of The Panderosa, trained by Colleen Posner for Can Du Stable, scored by a diminishing neck over Magical Western. Hawaiian Perfect was 1-2 length back in third.

“She went a game trip,” Palone said. “She was a little funny getting out of there, so I just let her get settled. There was just enough movement that I thought the leader might have been softened up. My filly went a brave trip. What she might lack in overall talent she makes up in attitude.”

Blueridge Mosaic, a daughter of Real Artist, sat a loose pocket down the back side for Stillings but charged through the Lightning Lane to win by a neck over Western Top Cat in 1:57.3. Ashland Blue was third.

“Leaving out of there, she swelled up on me a little bit, and I didn’t want to have to get her attention again, so I let her relax,” Stillings said. “I was just letting her do what she wanted to. She surprised me a little with her finishing kick.”

Mike Palone trains Blueridge Mosaic for Heather B. Roney.