Charmbo Stormy making strides

Four-year-old Sportswriter mare Charmbo Stormy shaved nearly three seconds off her lifetime mark on Tuesday (May 24) at The Raceway at Western Fair District and won for the fourth time this season in a 17-1 upset.

Scott Young had the mare at top speed from post five as the gate pulled away, and she took control briefly before Katys Delight (Travis Cullen) circled her from the pocket as they finished the first quarter in :28. Brydown Better Bea (Garrett Rooney) became the next leader as she vacated the three-hole and vaulted to the top before they hit the half-mile pole in :57.3.

Young activated Charmbo Stormy behind the pocket-popping Katys Delight on the backstretch. The latter began to stall after passing three-quarters in 1:26.1, but Young kept his charge covered until they straightened for home. As Charmbo Stormy swung three-wide, she found more pace and out-finished a cluster of rivals for a narrow victory in 1:57.

Katys Delight battled on for second but lost the photo by a head. Better Watch It (Colin Kelly) got up for third from last at the quarter. The win price was $37.50.

CHARMBO STORMY REPLAY

John Rier of Kitchener trains Charmbo Stormy, his homebred. He also owns and bred the mare’s first and second dams, a line stemming from a mare he acquired in 1993. Charmbo Stormy has earned $41,456 and won five times from 23 career starts. She is four-for-16 this year after scoring once from seven outings in her debut campaign in 2021. Her previous best was 1:59.4, a time set four weeks ago.

The Raceway at Western Fair District’s next card is set for Wednesday, May 25 with a 5:50 p.m. EDT first post. The track will host its signature race, the $150,000 Camluck Classic, along with several other stakes events, on Friday.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink