Get Stormy stumbles, but still can't be caught in Fourstardave

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - A return to Saratoga, firm turf, and an uncontested lead enabled Get Stormy to return to the winner’s circle in Sunday’s Grade 2, $150,000 Fourstardave Handicap.

Despite stumbling at the start, Get Stormy got to the lead without much trouble, dictated strong fractions under Javier Castellano and scored a 1 1/4-length victory in the Fourstardave. Public Speaker, under Robby Albarado, got up for second by a nose over Zifzaf. It was a length back to Whatsthescript in fourth.

Unfortunately, Public Speaker had to be vanned off with what Albarado said he believes is a suspensory injury to the horse’s left foreleg. The injury is not believed to be life-threatening.

Get Stormy had a five-race winning streak snapped when he finished fourth in the Grade 2 King Edward Stakes at Woodbine on June 27. He caught soft ground that day and was forced to duel on the lead with another horse.

Sunday, over a firm outer turf course, Get Stormy became the lone speed when trainer Graham Motion scratched Cherokee Artist to run in the Grade 2, $200,000 Oceanport Handicap at Monmouth Park.

“I said I had only one wish on the day and that was that Graham Motion would scratch,” said Tom Bush, who trains Get Stormy for Sullimar Stable. “Sometimes when I wish for something it doesn’t turn out right.”

This almost didn’t turn out right. When the gates opened, Get Stormy stumbled, but he quickly recovered and made the lead through fractions of 23.65 seconds for the quarter, 47.01 for the half-mile, and 1:10.05 for six furlongs while being pursued by Pinckney Hill and Public Speaker.

Turning for home, Castellano asked Get Stormy ($5.10) to open up and he did, coming strongly to cover the 1 1/16 miles in 1:39.09. That was only .18 of a second off the Mellon Turf Course record set by Fourstardave in 1991 when this race was called the Daryl’s Joy. Get Stormy, a 4-year-old son of Stormy Atlantic, has now won 7 of 15 starts and earned $435,961.

“The fractions were decent fractions, he enjoyed galloping on the lead,” Castellano said. “Turning for home, everybody thought I didn’t have a horse, when I asked him he took off again.”