The 3-year-old pacing filly No Storm Damage didn’t get to the races at Cal-Expo until late last month, but she’s been trying her best to make up for lost time by crossing the wire first in all three of her starts for owner/driver/trainer Troy Thomas.
 
“I bought her in March, because I was looking for a filly, and she’s pretty much done everything I’ve asked since,” related Thomas when asked about the daughter of Cr Fandango Fella.  “She’s always shown ability, and the important thing is that she wants to be a racehorse.”
 
Although she was disqualified out of the victory in her debut, she was impressive on the front end that evening, and she came back a week later to make things official with a facile coast-to-coast decision that made her 1-2 odds look like a gift.  In last week’s tour with a tougher group, she left to the lead, settled into the pocket at the half and then came home in :28.1 to prevail by a neck in a 1:57.3 performance.
 
“She’s still green, but there’s no question she has the talent,” her mentor noted.  “I’ve been putting her on the lead because I feel she’s best and you don’t want to get too far behind, but she’s always trained well from behind and I actually switch her back and forth in the mornings.”
 
No Storm Damage tracked nicely once passed down the backside in that most recent try, was out and making her bid in the stretch and responded when the question was asked to get the job done.
 
“I felt we had the leader measured when I came out of the hole, but once she made the lead she did a little stargazing.  When she heard the other horse coming, though, she focused again and dug in.”
 
Since he first got No Storm Damage in the spring, the goal has been to get her ready for the sophomore Sire Stakes that begin again at the end of the month.
 
“That’s the plan, and it would be nice to win at least one of those races,” Troy said.
 
Stay tuned to see if this lightly raced distaffer can mix it up with the more experienced members of the division when the big money is up for grabs.
 
Live racing resumes at Cal-Expo on Thursday (October 21) and continues through Saturday (October 23).  Approximate first-race post-time is 5:45 p.m. (PDT).  On Thursday and every live card, Cal-Expo offers free admission, as well as free preferred & general parking after 4:30 p.m.  Also on Thursday night from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Cal-Expo offers a complete Lasagna dinner, which includes salad and bread, for just $3.00.  Additionally on Thursday, beer & wine can be purchased for $3.00 each as well. 
 
Now on Saturdays, Cal-Expo offers a reduced 15 percent takeout rate on both the Early & Late Pick-4 wagers with BOTH Pick-4’s now having a $10,000 gross guaranteed pool.