Got Stormy saves day for Casse with Honey Fox victory

Got Stormy made an auspicious 6-year-old debut and helped trainer Mark Casse salvage a frustrating Saturday at Gulfstream Park, holding off a late charge from Zofelle to win the Grade 3, $125,000 Honey Fox Stakes by a nose.

Zofelle was second by a head over Feel Glorious, who got third by a neck over the pacesetting Jakarta.

The victory was the 11th from 27 lifetime starts for Got Stormy, a two-time Grade 1 winner. She was making her first start for Spendthrift Farm and My Racehorse California. Previously owned by Gary Barber, Got Stormy was purchased by Spendthrift for $2.75 million at last November’s Fasig-Tipton sale.

She has been leased for racing purposes to My Racehorse.

Casse had previously trained Got Stormy and said he was pleasantly surprised when he got the call from Spendthrift’s Ned Toffey to train her again.

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Last year, after some disappointing early-season efforts, Got Stormy found a new lease on life as a turf sprinter. She won two Grade 3 turf sprints and was beaten only two lengths when fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

On Saturday, Got Stormy, under Tyler Gaffalione, stalked the pacesetting Jakarta through a quarter in 24.29 seconds, a half-mile in 48.76 and six furlongs in 1:12.72. Got Stormy was able to overtake Jakarta inside the sixteenth pole and hold off Zofelle and Feel Glorious, who were rallying five- and six-wide, respectively.

Got Stormy ($4.20) completed the mile in 1:35.52.

Casse took a different tact getting Got Stormy ready for her 6-year-old debut and the results showed.

“We’re excited we were able to deliver,” Casse said. “I thought last year getting her ready for her first race back I didn’t do such a good job and this year we cranked her up a little more.”

Earlier on the card, Casse’s 3-year-old filly Spanish Loveaffair was disqualified from an apparent victory in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride Stakes and was placed fourth. The Casse-trained Olympic Runner was beaten a neck by Venezuelan Hug in the Grade 3 Canadian Turf.

Antoinette wires field in The Very One

Antoinette proved yet again that she is tough to handle when able to get loose on the lead in a turf marathon as she made the front rather easily entering the first turn and cruised to a 2 1/4-length, front-running victory in the Grade 3, $125,000 The Very One Stakes.

Belle Laura, who ceded the early lead to Antoinette, outfinished Sister Hanan to get second by a neck. It was a head back to Tuned in fourth.

The victory gave trainer Bill Mott his second stakes win of the day as he also took the $100,000 Palm Beach Stakes with Annex.

Antoinette, a 4-year-old Godolphin homebred daughter of Hard Spun, won last year’s $500,000 Saratoga Oaks when able to get loose on the lead. On Saturday, she was making her 4-year-old debut.

Jose Ortiz, riding Antoinette for the first time, said Mott told him to be 1-2 early on. Though Belle Laura, under Edgard Zayas, had the lead through the lane the first time, Antoinette seized it from her by the first turn. Antoinette galloped along through fractions of 23.98 for the quarter, 49.11 for the half-mile, 1:13.24 for six furlongs and 1:36.67. She had plenty left when Ortiz asked her turning for home the second time and was never seriously threatened.

Antoinette covered the 1 3/16 miles over firm turf in 1:53.70 and returned $9.20 as the slight favorite.

“I was happy to sit off [Belle Laura], but I think when Edgard looked at my horse, my horse was going so easy so he decided to pull back and I was able to take an easy lead and she was there for me the whole time,” Ortiz said. “She’s a big mare and she has a lot of stamina.”