W. L. McKnight

Meteor Storm rained down in the McKnight (Jim Lisa Photos)

The Horizon Stable’s METEOR STORM (GB) (Bigstone [Ire]) held off a bid from
2-1 favorite Revved Up (Sultry Song) to prove best in Saturday’s $200,000
W. L.
McKnight H. (G2) at Calder Race Course.

Trained by Wally Dollase, the
six-year-old bay trailed just off the pace under jockey Javier Castellano as
Wild Buddy (Line in the Sand) opened through fractions of :23 4/5 and :48 3/5.
The leader relinquished that advantage to Demeteor (Dehere), who had trailed in
second throughout before setting splits of 1:12 4/5 and 1:37. However, Demeteor could not
hold on as Meteor Storm made a run three wide to challenge for the lead on the
turn for home, opening up in upper stretch. He was able to hold that spot,
completing 1 1/2 miles in 2:25 4/5 over the firm turf.

Meteor Storm left the gate as the 3-1 second-favorite to pay $8.20, $3.80 and
$2.80, keying exotics of $29.20 (exacta), $690.40 (trifecta) and $10,684 for the
11-8-2-7 superfecta. Revved Up gave back $3 and $2.60 for the place while
Scooter Roach (Mi Cielo) returned $13.40 at 52-1. Dreadnaught (Lac Ouimet)
completed the superfecta and was followed by Silverfoot (With Approval), Rousing
Victory (Victory Gallop), Request for Parole (Judge T C), Wild Buddy, Pellegrino
(Brz) (Nugget Point [Ire]), Noble Masterpiece (Regal Classic), Demeteor and
Franklin’s Tower (Cape Town). Go Deputy (Deputy Minister), Supervisor (Skip
Trial), Rumor Has It (Awesome Again) and Ramazutti (Honor Grades) did not draw
into the field.