Friday, August 27, 2010
GET STORMY GETS THE PRIZE IN BERNARD BARUCH
By Jon Forbes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Get Stormy improved his record to four wins from five starts at Saratoga Race Course with a 2 ¾-length victory on Friday in the 52nd running of the Grade 2, $200,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap on the turf.
Entering today’s event off a gate-to-wire triumph in the Grade 2 Fourstardave Handicap on August 1 at the Spa, Get Stormy stalked the pace in second after conceding the early lead to National Kid, who dictated a tempo of 23.81, 47.83, and 1:10.90. After drawing to the throatlatch of the pacesetter as they straightened for the stretch run, Get Stormy gained the upper hand under a drive with a furlong left and drew clear of National Kid, who finished second, one length ahead of third-place finisher Radical Sabbatical.
Get Stormy, who in the Baruch was contesting 1 1/8th miles for the first time, covered the distance in 1:46.70 and returned $3.90 for a $2 win wager to his backers in the crowd of 21,654.
“The last time I rode him, he settled pretty well,” said winning jockey Javier Castellano. “He's the type of horse you can do whatever you want with him. We were tucked in behind [National Kid]. When I pushed the button, he took off. He had a lot left in the end. I was excited for him today because this was a mile and an eighth race today. The question was if he could handle the distance, and he did.”
Going into the race, winning trainer Tom Bush believed National Kid had superior early speed but trusted Castellano to put Get Stormy in a good spot.
“Javier did the right thing – he kept the hedge going through the first two turns, then he stepped him outside a little bit,” said Bush. “He rode absolutely exceptionally. This horse showed last year that he could definitely sit if he had to, and he certainly did that today.”
The Baruch was the sixth stakes victory for Get Stormy, who last year won an allowance race and the Lure at the Spa. After taking a pair of Grade 3 races in
Get Stormy – owned by his breeder, Mary Sullivan of Sullimar Stable – added $120,000 to his career earnings, which now stand at $555,961. The 4-year-old son of Stormy Atlantic has posted a record of 8-2-1 from 16 starts.
The rest of the field finished in a four-way photo for fourth, with Sudden War, Baletti, Whatsthescript, and Rogue Victory completing the order of finish.
-30-
