Devilish Emerald makes winning debut in PASS

Devilish Emerald was positively angelic in her career debut, moving crisply to the front and holding on late in the fastest division of Friday's (July 2) $284,932 Pennsylvania Sires Stake for 2-year-old trotting fillies at The Meadows.

 

The event, known as the Meadow Gladys, was contested over six divisions, with Norma Jean Hall, Tango Dancer, Celebrity Katie, Pacific Splash and Alzata Hanover all first-time starters taking the other splits. Brett Miller (Celebrity Katie, Alzata Hanover) and Dave Palone (Devilish Emerald, Tango Dancer) each fashioned a stakes double.

 

The card also featured nine divisions of a $180,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series stake for freshman colt and gelding pacers, meaning that 108 youngsters competed for $464,932 in total purses.

Devilish Emerald was exceptional in her two qualifiers, winning both while getting every call. She fulfilled that promise in the Meadow Gladys, scoring by a neck in 1:58.2. Caitrin Hall was second, with Hall-N-Flori third.

 

"I thought she could trot, but I didn't expect her to go 1:58 and a piece her first start," said Bill Zendt, who trains the homebred daughter of Broadway Hall-Devilish Hanover for Shanamphilaniklou. "She's a little warm, so she has to behave herself. The big thing is keeping her settled. If you can do that, she'll trot like a sonofagun."

 

Norma Jean Hall had only one qualifier to prep for the stake, but trainer Dan Walski considered her ready for prime time.

 

"I liked her breeding and her conformation," Walski said of the $10,000 yearling acquisition. "In her qualifier, she acted like an aged horse, so I didn't think she needed any more qualifiers. She's done everything we've asked her to do. She'll stay pretty much in sires stakes."

 

The daughter of Tom Ridge-Nicegirlsdont moved first over for Brian Zendt and scored in 1:59.3, 4-3/4 lengths better than Summer Music. Jogging Home earned show money. WWW Ventures owns Norma Jean Hall.

 

Palone didnt necessarily want the lead with Tango Dancer, but when no one else came hard from the gate, the daughter of Broadway Hall-Giant Step found herself on the point. She prevailed effortlessly in 1:59.2, a half-length better than Broadway Starlet, with Lyrical Lady third.

 

"I wanted to float out of there, find a spot and race her conservatively," Palone said. "With babies, you want to win, but you don't want to give them a bad experience. She was comfortable all the way and finished well within herself."

 

Jim Campbell trains Tango Dancer for Fashion Farms. (The Meadows)