NEWS
Get Stormy hangs on in Commonwealth Turf
Posted: Sunday, November 15, 2009 6:47 PM
GET STORMY (inside) EDGES STREET MOVE AT CHURCHILL
Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer photo
To view a video replay of the Commonwealth Turf Stakes, click here.
by Ed DeRosa
With three consecutive wins at one mile on turf to his credit but no wins in four previous tries going 1 1/16 miles, handicappers may have been understandably pensive about backing Get Stormy in the Commonwealth Turf Stakes (G3) on Sunday at Churchill Downs.
But those who backed the three-year-old Stormy Atlantic colt and made him the 1.90-to-1 favorite in the field of ten were rewarded when Get Stormy held on for a nose victory over Street Move.
Get Stormy went right to his customary spot in front under Javier Castellano, setting the pace through fractions of :23.57, :47.19, 1:11.68, and 1:35.43 through one mile while relatively unpressured until the final sixteenth. The second quarter in :23.62 and fourth quarter in :23.75 appeared to be taking their toll in the final yards, as Get Stormy completed his final sixteenth in 6.24 seconds, but that was enough to hold on for his first win beyond a mile.
“We had a great post to go straight to the rail and try to harness some of my speed,” Castellano said. “I don’t want to take anything away from the horse: he was very sharp today and felt great. I tried to make him relax a little today. … When I asked him to take off for home, he responded very well and opened up for me. He is really starting to mature and turn into a nice horse.”
Owner-breeder Mary Sullivan said after the race that Get Stormy would get a rest and remain in training next year for his four-year-old campaign. The colt has won four of nine races this year, including the Bryan Station (G3) and Lure Stakes.
Bred in Kentucky, Get Stormy is the first foal to race out of the Kiri’s Clown mare Foolish Gal. He has amassed $273,586 in lifetime earnings with five wins from 12 starts.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Ed DeRosa is news editor of Thoroughbred Times
