Palone looks for NA Cup win

Dave Palone is undoubtedly one of the most talented reinsmen to ever sit behind a horse. The 44-year-old Pennsylvania native is closing in on his 11,000th career driving win, although he has yet to win an edition of the Pepsi North America, Canada's richest harness race.

Prior to this year, his only drive in the classic for 3-year-old pacing colts came in the 2000 season, where he steered Aint No Stopn Him, a son of Western Hanover, to a fifth-place finish for trainer Joe Holloway.

Without saying, it would be fitting if Palone were to triumph in this year's edition of the $1.5-million dash, as he is set to pilot Dave Panlone, a son of 1999 NA Cup winner The Panderosa named in his honor, from the rail spot.

Driver David Miller subbed in for Palone during the colt's elimination last week, and his replacement saw the bay go the biggest race of his young career. Dave Panlone was battling first-up for the lead at the half-mile pole and came a wicked final half, digging in through the lane for a three-quarters of a length victory over Perfect Union in a life's best 1:51.1 clocking.

"I thought this horse would represent himself well, and I especially liked that he raced from the back--even if it only was for half the mile--because he is better following a helmet than he is on the front," Palone said.

Dave Panlone was far from a world beater last year at two, racing 10 times, accumulating a record of 4-1-2 and a mark of 1:54, good for $68,992 in purses.

"He wasn't really anything special as a 2 year old. He was a very nice colt and did everything that was asked of him, he just didn't strike me as a top colt," said Palone, who drives the colt for trainer Jim Arledge and Ohio-based owners James Stambaugh and Milton Leeman. "He paced in (1):53 and change and took a mark of (1):54. He was probably in the top five in Pennsylvania, but didn't show that he was Grand Circuit caliber."

Last October, during divisions of the International Stallion and Bluegrass Stakes at The Red Mile, the colt finished fifth and sixth, respectively, before ending his freshman campaign.

"To the colt's defense, he did get a little tired by the end of the season. So it really wasn't his fault that he didn't stack up against the best horses last year," Palone said of the colt, who has triumphed in all of his three races this campaign. "But, to look at him come back from two to three, it was a world of difference.

"He's got a little more fight in him this year. Last year he would just sort of go through the motions and the only way he'd win is if things went his own way. Obviously, last week he proved that he doesn't need things to go his way for him to win. He was really tough while first-over (in his elimination) and fought back at the end."

With his victory in the eliminations, Dave Panlone's connections were able to select their post position for the Cup final.

"It's an evenly-grouped bunch of 3 year olds this year and some of the better ones don't seem to be on top of their game right now," Palone said. "His best game will be if I can follow and get a second- or third-over trip with him." (WEG)

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