Palone rolls a 7

Just nine days after his return to driving following a serious leg injury, Dave Palone drove seven winners on Thursday's 13-race card at The Meadows.

In 10 assignments on the card, Palone also had one place finish along with two out-of-the-money efforts. Five of the victories were for trainer Mickey Burke, the other two for trainer Kelly O'Donnell. Each of the O'Donnell fillies, Tidewaterdragonfly and Western Montana, was making the first start of her sophomore campaign.

“Those fillies might be part of the reason I rushed back,” Palone said. “I liked them last year and really want to drive them this year.”

Palone suffered multiple fractures to his right thighbone on April 10. Defying doctors' predictions of a protracted rehabilitation period, he returned to racing on May 29. While he drove only two horses that night, he has since resumed a full schedule.

“I feel as good as ever in the bike--no apprehensions,” he said. “Maybe some of my good accounts are making me look better than I am.” (Meadows)

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