The Meadows: Palone praises Fashion Annie after PA Sire Stakes score

Fashion Annie remained undefeated in her brief two-race career after a win in Friday's $151,668 Pennsylvania Sires Stake at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. Brunella and Portulaca captured the other divisions in the event, known as the Meadow Gladys, for 2-year-old filly trotters. Dave Palone enjoyed a stake double behind Fashion Annie and Portulaca among his three victories on the card.

Fashion Annie won her career debut by making up seven lengths over the back-half. In the Meadow Gladys, however, she flashed early speed, putting her in position for the decisive move when she pulled the pocket near the three-quarters and blew past Bella Macchiato to triumph in 1:56. Angelpedia rallied for second, 2 3/4 lengths back, while Bella Macchiato held third.

"I didn't want to accelerate her into the turn," Palone said. "I wanted to make sure she had a good angle. When I asked her to accelerate, she had some turn of foot. A complete sweetheart."

Jim Campbell trains the homebred daughter of Donato Hanover-Fashion Athena for Jules Siegel's Fashion Farms LLC.

Brunella had the services of a famous retiree - Hall of Famer Jimmy Takter - who donned his colors to drive for his daughter, Nancy Takter, the trainer of the Father Patrick-Hollywood Hill filly. It was a productive match-up, as the first-time starter quarter-poled to the top and widened late to score by 5 1/4 lengths in 1:56. Piano Bar and Show Me Da Moni completed the ticket.

"I didn't want to get into any traffic with her," the Hall of Famer said. "She could have gone at least a second or two faster today. She's staked basically to everything."

Goran Falk and Christina Takter bred and own Brunella.

In her career debut, Portulaca looked mighty responsive for Palone and Kathleen LaMontagne, who bred and owns the daughter of Donato Hanover-Motivational with Donald LaMontagne. She prevailed in 1:59, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Wild Jiggy S, with Lindys Irishcream third.

"She's the last one out of my good mare," the trainer said. "She progressed without a hiccup. She reminds me of her mom; that's the best compliment I can give her. She'll have 10 starts, then she's done for the year. We'll have a nice, fresh horse next year."

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$60,000 PA Stallion Series - 2-Year-Old Filly Trotters

Sheer Faith idled outside until the dust settled, then poured it on, crushing the field by 11 1/2 lengths in 1:57. The time knocked a tick from the stake record established by Lady Athens in 2015. Mommas A Diva and Gloriousk rounded out the ticket.

"I was really looking for a hole," said winning trainer/driver David Wade. "There was half a hole, but I didn't want to take a chance. As soon as we straightened up, she was gone."

For now, Wade owns the homebred daughter of Better Caviar-Sheer Delight with Gerald Brittingham and William Peel, but he said the filly is in the process of being sold.

Sister Solange and Wind N Water took the other splits.

--press release (MSOA)--