Golden Gate Fields: Stormy Lucy takes command in Miss America

Stormy Lucy maintained her perfect record over Golden Gate Fields’s turf course on Saturday, getting the jump on odds-on favorite Halo Dolly entering the stretch and pulling away for a four-length victory in the $53,700 Miss America Stakes.

The 4-year-old Stormy Lucy ($9.40) was in a bunched group outside of Halo Dolly sitting behind pacesetting Cielator down the backstretch and on the second turn.

Isaias Enriquez was able to move out a bit on Stormy Lucy on the turn, while Russell Baze, aboard Halo Dolly, was forced to wait for an opening behind Cielator and longshot Madame Pele as the field turned for home.

Stormy Lucy moved first with a clear run just as Halo Dolly was threading her way past the leaders to their inside. But Stormy Lucy had the momentum and quickly assumed command, widening her margin through the stretch to win the 1 1/16-mile turf race in 1:44.78.

Defending champion Halo Dolly was second, 1 1/2 lengths in front of stablemate Lady Aspen.

“Things were tight on the first turn, but Russell and I were able to get our horses behind the speed on the backstretch,” said Enriquez. “I just waited for the right time to make my move.

“She was on the bit, and, when I tapped her a few times, she just zoomed away. The way she was finishing, I knew nobody was going to be able to catch me.”

Baze agreed, saying, “I’m not sure that even if I’d got through cleaner, I would have been able to beat the winner. She ran pretty strong away from us.

“I certainly would have liked to have had some place to go about the five-sixteenths pole and see if I could have made her work for it more.”

Stormy Lucy won the Golden Poppy here last year before later running in a series of Grade 1 races, including a second in the Del Mar Oaks and third in the Rodeo Drive at Santa Anita. She was winless in three starts this year, including a six-furlong sprint here on Sept. 7.

“Last year, she had a great kick,” said winning trainer Frank Lucarelli. “I was hoping to see that again, and she did.”

Owned by Erica Gaunt, Stormy Lucy, a $24,000 May 2011 Barretts purchase, earned $30,400 for her fifth win in 17 starts. She has now earned $247,950.