Got Stormy wins second Fourstardave
SARATOGA SPRINGS >> At 121, Got Stormy wasn’t attracting much interest at the windows for Saturday’s $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap (G1) even though she’d be running at her favorite track. Two years ago, after tuning up with an easy win in the nongraded De La Rose Stakes, the Mark Casse trainee became the first female to win the Fourstardave, setting a course record of 1:32.00 flat in the process. In last year’s Fourstardave, Got Stormy finished a close second behind Halladay.
The now 6-year-old mare had started off slowly in 2021, however. After scoring in the Honey Fox Stakes (G3) back in February, she could do no better than fifth facing tougher company in the Churchill Downs Turf Mile (G2) and the Jaipur (G1) at Belmont. Perhaps, considering her age and the fact she would be making her 30th start, she was no longer the same horse who had won nine stakes and banked over $2 million.
At least that was probably much of the thinking before the gates opened on Saturday. Breaking perfectly under Tyler Gaffalione, Got Stormy settled into an ideal stalking position behind pacesetters Blowout and Whisper Not, holding her ground around both turns and
the stretch. She then swept past the leaders at the eighth pole, opening up several lengths on the field before gearing down approaching the wire and settling for a length-and-ahalf victory. Set Piece rallied for second, with Casa Creed another half-length back in third. Even-money favorite Raging Bull finished a non-threatening sixth in the field of eight. Got Stormy was clocked in racehorse time of 1:33 flat. Because the Fourstardave is a Win & You’re In race, Got Stormy has earned herself a spot in the starting gate for the Breeders’ Cup Mile Nov. 6 at Del Mar.
HIGH OAK IS SPECIAL
After Gun Runner got off to a blazing start last weekend when his son Wicked Halo won the Adirondack Stakes and daughter Pappacap took the Best Pal, the firstcrop sire (and 2017 Horse of the Year) appeared to have a good shot at winning a third 2-year-old graded stakes on Saturday with Gunite, who was sent off as the 9-2 third choice in the Saratoga Special.
Gunite dueled with favored Doctor Jeff for much of the 6½-furlong race before putting that one away in upper stretch. He had no answer, however, when High Oak — who had tracked the two pacesetters in third into and around the turn — blew by inside the eighth pole and drew off to a 4¼-length victory.