Five in row for Hot Storm

ARCADIA, Calif. - Hot Storm's annual visit to California produced a lucrative stakes win in the $300,000 .

In 2005, Hot Storm, a Florida-bred, won the Sunshine Millions Oaks in a 21-1 upset in her lone start of the year on the West Coast. This year, bettors gave her every chance in the Filly and Mare Sprint, sending her off as the 3-1 second choice.

Hot Storm, 4, took advantage of a track that played friendly to front-runners Saturday and won her fifth consecutive race.

Ridden by David Flores, Hot Storm led through early fractions of 21.51 and 44.35 seconds, racing along the inside. She was challenged by Etch in the first furlong before taking a one-length lead at the end of the backstretch.

Hot Storm faced a stern challenge from 3-5 favorite Western Hemisphere in early stretch, but pulled away to win by 1 3/4 lengths, finishing six furlongs in 1:09.44.

Western Hemisphere, a California-bred, held second, 2 1/2 lengths in front of Thrilling Victory, a California-bred.

There were nine starters in the Filly and Mare Sprint, following the late withdrawals of Allswellthat-nswell, Alphabet Kisses, and Leave Me Alone.

Hot Storm ($8) races for breeder Robert Adams and trainer Dallas Stewart. By Stormy Atlantic, Hot Storm has won 8 of 18 starts and $559,505. Her winning streak began in Kentucky in September in the Weekend Delight Stakes at Turfway Park. She later won an optional claimer at Churchill Downs and two more stakes at Turfway Park.