Big night for Gorham, Houghton

Trainer Robert Gorham and jockey Terry Houghton were the big winners on Michigan Sire Stakes night last Saturday, each winning three times on Michigan racing's richest program. They teamed up for two wins, including one with Weatherstorm, the probable Michigan horse of the year for 2006. Weatherstom, a 3-year-old gelding, was winning his sixth consecutive race and the fifth stakes of his campaign.

The Sire Stakes, a series of six races, is for the progeny of Michigan sires. Each division was worth at least $140,000, with approximately $84,000 going to the winners. Gorham won the first two races, which were for 2-year-olds.

Favored Dublin Dutchess, owned by Henry Mast, was unchallenged in the juvenile filly race. She glided under the wire with Houghton aboard, winning the six-furlong race by nearly four lengths, paying $3.20.

Q Fortunate Sun, trained by Gorham for his sister Marion Gorham, upset the male division by nearly five lengths, rallying four wide under jockey Tommy Molina. He paid $21.

Houghton won the 3-year-old filly race aboard Nell's Enjoyment for owner/trainer/breeder Shane Spiess. Nell's Enjoyment stalked the pace to the quarter pole before rallying to win the 1 1/16-mile race by a widening seven lengths. Part of an entry, Nell's Enjoyment paid $3.60.

Molina tallied again in the 1 1/18-mile older distaffer division when he got Creative Miss up for an easy

3 3/4-length win. Scott Sowle trains Creative Miss, a repeat Sire Stakes winner, for owner Todd Weddon. Part of an entry, she paid $4.80.

Weatherstorm received the biggest roar from the crowd in recent

memory here when he drew off for a 5 1/4-length win in the 3-year-old male division. Houghton had Weatherstorm just off the pace before he allowed the Island Storm gelding to take over in the mile and an eighth race. Weatherstorm ($3) was win number two for Marion Gorham and number three for Robert Gorham and Houghton.

Meadow Vespers, owned by John Mack, rallied from far back to win the 1 1/18-mile finale for trainer Richard Rettee. Finishing third was Rockem Sockem, Gorham and Mast's Michigan horse of the year in 2004 and 2005. Meadow Vespers, with Mary Doser in the saddle, paid $8.80.

Doser also won the early daily double ($61.40) with Hear Come Peanut ($33.40) and Elvis Cool ($3.60).