Got Stormy an authoritative winner in De La Rose

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Got Stormy exploded through the final furlong to a dominating four-length victory over Capla Temptress and four other overmatched fillies and mares in the $100,000 De La Rose, the last of five stakes races decided on Saturday’s Whitney day program at Saratoga.

The De La Rose, restricted to horses who had not won a sweepstakes in 2019, scratched down from an original field of 14 entrants to just six starters earlier in the day. And Got Stormy fit those conditions perfectly despite the fact she was coming into the race off the two best performances of her career, a third in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland and second-place finish in the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile at Churchill Downs.

Got Stormy was scheduled to run in the Grade 1 Just a Game at Belmont Park on June 8, only to miss the race when injured after getting cast in her stall the day before the race.

With regular rider Tyler Gaffalione aboard Saturday, Got Stormy was confidently rated within striking distance of the pacesetting Desert Isle, remained well in hand when advancing to engage the leader in early stretch, then drew off with complete authority when set down through the final furlong.

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Capla Temptress rallied from last nip Stella di Camelot by a nose to finish second while no match for the winner. Divine Miss Grey was pulled up near midstretch and vanned off with an apparent injury to her left front leg.

Mark Casse trains Got Stormy, a 4-year-old daughter of Get Stormy, for the partnership of Gary Barber and Southern Equine Stables. Her final time for a mile over a very firm course was 1:33.15, just two ticks off the mark established the previous day by Macagone.

Got Stormy paid $6.40 as the lukewarm favorite.

“Maybe the best thing that ever happened was missing that race at Belmont because she’s really blossomed since she’s gotten up here,” said Casse. “I don’t think [Gaffalione] ever turned his stick to her, and this was a solid bunch of fillies she just beat. We’ve run some horses this week that I thought would run well and didn’t, so I’d lost a little confidence even though I knew she was training super going into the race. But this win made up for some of that.”

Casse said the Woodbine Mile might be an option for Got Stormy’s next start.