Got Stormy should win the Powder Break but rain could complicate matters

If Mother Nature wasn’t a factor, Saturday’s $75,000 Powder Break Stakes for females at Gulfstream Park would appear to be an easy race to handicap. Got Stormy, a multiple Grade 1 winner, is the clear class of the field and she would appear to be getting an ideal setup with a plethora of speed entered in the one-mile race scheduled for the turf.

But severe thunderstorms are in the forecast throughout Friday and potentially into Saturday morning, which could make for a less-than-firm turf course or cause a transfer of this race to the main track. Trainer Mark Casse has said Got Stormy could scratch if either of those factors come into play.

Got Stormy hasn’t run since finishing second against colts in the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile on March 7 at Santa Anita. Casse said the Powder Break is a prep “for whatever comes next.”

Got Stormy does her best running from off the pace, and there seems to be ample speed in this field with Jakarta, Silver Kitten, W W Fitzy, and Valedictorian in the field.

Got Stormy will break from post 10 under Luis Saez.

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Valedictorian, a 6-year-old daughter of Temple City, has proven effective over less-than-firm ground, winning the Grade 3 Eatontown last summer over good Monmouth turf and the All Along Stakes in 2018 over yielding ground at Laurel.

Her two starts this year though have been somewhat disappointing with a sixth in the Grade 3 Honey Fox and a third in the Sand Springs. Trainer Kelly Breen believes Valedictorian has raced her way into shape this year “and this being her third race back she should be fit, tight, and ready to go,” he said.

Breen said Valedictorian would most likely run turf or dirt.

Valiance, a 4-year-old daughter of Tapit, went 3 for 3 last year, winning a maiden race from post 12 at Gulfstream in April, then taking an allowance and the Open Mind Stakes at Monmouth Park in May and June.

Aron Wellman, president of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, which co-owns Valiance with China Horse Club and Martin Schwartz, said Valiance “went a little bit sour on us.” Wellman said the decision was made to give Valiance plenty of time off.

“We don’t like the idea of having to run against Got Stormy in a $75,000 stakes, but we’re at a point where she’s got to run and we’re ready to run,” Wellman said.

Trainer Chad Brown sends out the uncoupled entry of Tapit Today and the first-time North American runner Noor Sahara. Tapit Today comes off a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Suwannee River, simply no match for the multiple graded stakes winner Starship Jubilee and just losing second by a neck to stablemate Magic Star. Should Got Stormy scratch, there is no one the caliber of Starship Jubilee in this spot.

Trainer Scott Becker said he is interested in trying W W Fitzy on the turf for the first time, “but it wouldn’t hurt my feelings none if it were off,” he said.

An Illinois-bred daughter of Well Positioned, W W Fitzy is coming off an eight-length allowance victory on dirt April 3 at Gulfstream. W W Fitzy will have to deal with the outside post in this 11-horse field.