A field filled with potential

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - One more like that last one, and Allen Jerkens may have to start thinking about bigger things for All Hail Stormy. A terrific maiden victory on opening day of the Gulfstream Park meet has All Hail Stormy as the likely favorite in the Wednesday feature, a $34,000 allowance sprint that figures to produce a starter or two for upcoming stakes for 3-year-olds.

In fact, although the featured eighth race drew eight colts and geldings with just a maiden victory apiece, several of them were so impressive in those wins that a second career victory Wednesday could lead to a race such as the Grade 2 Hutcheson Stakes on Feb. 14.

is perhaps the most likely of the eight to continue onward and upward. A Stormy Atlantic colt owned by Martin Schwartz, All Hail Stormy earned a 93 Beyer Speed Figure when he dominated a six-furlong maiden race Jan. 3. That was the third career start for All Hail Stormy but just the first under the care of Jerkens, who assumed All Hail Stormy's training late last fall.

Jean-Luc Samyn will replace Ramon Dominguez aboard All Hail Stormy. Dominguez, based in Maryland, was here opening day when he rode Bowman's Band to a runner-up finish in the Hal's Hope Handicap.

If not All Hail Stormy, then several of his opponents appear capable of advancing to tougher races.

One is Black Raptor, a Pennsylvania-bred colt who earned an 85 Beyer when he captured a Dec. 27 maiden race at Calder as the odds-on favorite. Bill White is the trainer of Black Raptor, who has shown speed in both career starts.

Another logical play is Harbo, who won his first and only start in July at Calder for David Braddy. Since then, Harbo, a Florida-bred by Boston Harbor, has been sold privately, and will make his return to action when he carries the green and red silks of Weyhill Farms and with Hall of Famer Bill Mott as his new trainer.

Another viable option is Bold Reality. He has been favored in all of his three starts, including a Dec. 30 allowance at Calder, a race very similar to this one. Bold Reality finished second in that race.

The rest of the field is Cherokee Spook, Tenace, Silver Rapt, and Call Me Moe.

The secondary feature, a $34,000 five-furlong allowance for older horses, is carded as the third of nine races. First post is 1:30 p.m.