Stormy Embrace has BC tuneup

The $100,000 Sheer Drama for Florida-bred fillies and mares on Saturday at Gulfstream Park could have Breeders’ Cup implications.

Stormy Embrace is part of the field for the seven-furlong stakes. It is her first start since earning a berth into the BC Filly and Mare Sprint with her June 30 win in the Grade 2 Princess Rooney.

“She’s on the Breeders’ Cup trail,” trainer Kathleen O’Connell said Thursday. “We’ll take it one race at a time.”

The Sheer Drama will share a card with the $75,000 Trinniberg for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs. The races are part of a 12-race program Saturday.

The field of 10 for the Sheer Drama – named for the multiple Grade 1 winner bred in Florida – includes Bella Vincenza, a winner of her last three starts including the $75,000 Added Elegance at Gulfstream, and the half-sisters and stakes winners Starship Bonita and Surprise Wedding.

Stormy Embrace was a sixlength winner of the Princess Rooney, a seven-furlong race at Gulfstream that she won wire to wire in 1:21.81. It was her third straight victory in a streak that began in an overnight handicap March 10 at Tampa and continued with a win in the $100,000 Musical Romance on May 19 at Gulfstream.

Stormy Embrace earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 97 in the Princess Rooney.

“She had a very powerful performance in the Princess Rooney, which we were all excited about,” said O’Connell, who trains Stormy Embrace for her breeders, Matalona Thoroughbreds.

Stormy Embrace has been flattered since that race. The fourthplace finisher, multiple Grade 2 winner Curlin’s Approval, came back to win the $75,000 Sugarloaf Key at Gulfstream, and the sixth-place finisher, Spanish Harlem, won back in the $75,000 Barely Even, also at Gulfstream. Stormy Embrace, meanwhile, has been working at her Gulfstream Park West base, awaiting the Sheer Drama.

“I wanted to keep her in South Florida, didn’t want to overrun her, and this seemed like the logical spot,” O’Connell said.

O’Connell said the distance was appealing, as Stormy Embrace’s last three wins have come at seven furlongs. She also said the daughter of Circular Quay likes the track, with a 4-for-7 record on the dirt at Gulfstream.

Antonio Gallardo has the mount from post 3 on Stormy Embrace, who usually stalks the pace or goes to the front.

O’Connell also will send out Bella Vincenza, whose win streak began with a May allowance at Gulfstream.

Bella Vincenza will break from post 2 under Luca Panici.

“Luca gets along with her very well,” said O’Connell, who trains the daughter of Biondetti for Pinnacle Racing and Stein Racing.

O’Connell entered Thursday’s card at Gulfstream two wins from career training victory 2,000.

◗ Cautious Giant might get an ideal tracking trip off My Chinumado and Harryhee in the Trinniberg. He enters the race off a runner-up finish in an optional $62,500 claiming sprint at Gulfstream.

A year ago, Cautious Giant hooked Gun Runner in the Whitney at Saratoga, finishing seventh. Life got easier after that race. Cautious Giant has run first, second, or third in his 11 subsequent starts, including a win in he $110,000 Claiming Crown Rapid Transit in December at Gulfstream.