Got Stormy holds off Thewayiam in Penn Oaks

GRANTVILLE, Pa. – Got Stormy, under a well-timed ride by Tyler Gaffalione, hung on to score her initial stakes victory over a late-charging Thewayiam in the $200,000 Penn Oaks at Penn National on Saturday.

Got Stormy, who is trained by Mark Casse, had won a maiden race at Gulfstream Park in February and has since finished third in the Sanibel Island at Gulfstream and fourth over yielding ground in the Apalachian at Keeneland.

In the Penn Oaks, Got Stormy tracked the early pace, bid three wide on the far turn, and then took the lead nearing the furlong pole.

Thewayiam, who had finished second in the Appalachian in her last start, was a bit slow to level off in upper stretch and found her best stride a tad late. She was gaining quickly at the wire.

Got Stormy, a daughter of Get Stormy, paid $10.40 and was timed for a mile on firm ground in 1:34.76. Her final time is .40 seconds faster than Hawkish was timed in the Penn Mile two races later on the card, but the early fractions were quicker.

“She’s a nice filly, gutsy,” Casse said. “She the kind of filly you can position anywhere you want. We’ve learned a mile is about as far as she wants to go.”

Treasuring attended the early pace outside Classy Dancer and Raucous before taking a clear lead on the backstretch through a half-mile in 46.96. She was joined from the outside by Goodthingstaketime on the far turn, and then by Got Stormy.

“We saved ground around the first turn and started working our way out around the backside,” Gaffalione said. “She likes a free run, so I just wanted to make sure there was nothing in her way when it came time to go.”

Godthingstaketime finished third, a length behind Thewayiam. Treasuring finished two lengths farther back in fourth.

Got Stormy, who is owned by Gary Barber, is now 2 for 6.