Got Stormy entered in Powder Break; Casse monitoring weather

Got Stormy is ready to run. Moreover, she needs a win. Saturday’s $75,000 Powder Break Stakes at Gulfstream Park looks like it could provide Got Stormy the opportunity to accomplish both.

Weather permitting.

Got Stormy prefers firm turf. A tropical system off the east coast of Florida could bring an undetermined amount of rain to the area Friday and Saturday. Mark Casse, the trainer of Got Stormy, will monitor the, ahem, potential storm.

“Her best deal is a mile on hard turf,” Casse said Wednesday. “We have no pressure, if the turf has any give in it or if there’s anything we don’t like we just won’t run.”

Last year, Got Stormy won the Grade 1 Fourstardave against males at Saratoga and the Grade 1 Matriarch at Del Mar. The latter victory came after she finished second to the filly Uni in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

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In two starts this year, Got Stormy finished fourth in the Endeavour Stakes at Tampa and was second, beaten a neck, in the Grade 1 Kilroe against males on March 7 at Santa Anita.

Casse said he may not have had Got Stormy fit enough for the Endeavour, working her primarily on dirt leading up to that race. In the Kilroe, she got beat a neck by River Boyne.

“I thought it was a hell of a race,” Casse said. “We had to ship out there, we’re running on everybody else’s home field, and she was running against colts. She’s a hell of a filly, but she’s going to get beat sometimes.”

Since returning from California, Got Stormy has breezed five times over the turf at Palm Meadows.

“I’ve done all I can do with her as far as training,” Casse said. “As you can see by her works, she’s ready to go.”

With regular rider Tyler Gaffalione at Churchill Downs on Saturday, Luis Saez has picked up the mount.

Got Stormy was one of 10 horses entered in the Powder Break for the turf. Bella Ciao was entered main track only.

Valiance, undefeated in three starts for Todd Pletcher, makes her return to the races off an 11-month layoff. Trainer Chad Brown entered Tapit Today, third in the Grade 3 Suwannee River, and Noor Sahara, a filly who was based with Fabrice Chappet last year in France.

There appears to be ample speed in the race with Silver Kitten, Jakarta, and Valedictorian in the field. Also entered were Goodbye Brockley and Great Sister Diane.