Georgia's Storm could win rare double
DEL MAR, Calif. - History is working against Georgia's Storm in Saturday's $150,000 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar.
A two-time stakes winner at Hollywood Park this summer, Georgia's Storm will try to become only the fourth filly since 1980 to win both the Landaluce Stakes at Hollywood Park and the Sorrento Stakes, both 2-year-old races. Run over 6 1/2 furlongs, the Sorrento is a top prep to the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Aug. 26.
That so few fillies have won both stakes is not surprising. Some Landaluce winners did not go on to race at Del Mar, and the Sorrento always draws promising maiden winners from the last weeks of the Hollywood Park meeting or the first few days of Del Mar.
The biggest threat to Georgia's Storm is Tempera, a maiden winner at Hollywood Park three days after the Landaluce Stakes. Those two dominate a field of eight that includes three maidens - Daybreak Dawn, Respectful, and Ms. Louisett.
Trainer Eduardo Inda is confident that Georgia's Storm can be competitive at 6 1/2 furlongs. The Sorrento Stakes has been part of Inda's plan since the six-furlong Landaluce Stakes on July 7.
"There wasn't much to do after that race," Inda said. "She got a little time in between and it was perfect."
Georgia's Storm will be ridden by Chris McCarron, who rode her to a 1 1/4-length win over Respectful in the Landaluce.
"The last time Chris didn't hit her in the last part," Inda said. "The 6 1/2 furlongs doesn't bother me that much."
Georgia's Storm is likely to lead, but could be challenged early by Tempera and Martial's Princess, who was second in the CTBA Stakes here on July 20.
Tempera, who drew the outside post, can give trainer Eoin Harty his first stakes win since he opened a 2-year-old division for the Maktoum family's Godolphin Racing in the spring of 2000. Tempera's win makes her competitive in this field. She led throughout to win by 3 1/2 lengths over 5 1/2 furlongs.
Inda says that Georgia's Storm does not need the lead to win. How McCarron plays the opening quarter-mile could be the difference in whether Georgia's Storm becomes the first Landaluce winner to score in the Sorrento since Career Collection in 1997.
"She's very fast," Inda said. "She's good from the gate. She breaks - and boom! She can be on the lead or laying second. It's up to Chris more than anybody."
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