Hush of a Storm uses last-to-first move to take Ashley T. Cole

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Owner Sandy Goldfarb said he’s known trainer Brad Cox for more than 30 years. It’s only been recently, though, that he’s had horses with the multiple Eclipse Award winning trainer.

Hush of a Storm, a 6-year-old New York-bred gelding that Cox and Goldfarb claimed for $45,000 in July, rallied from last under Flavien Prat to win Friday’s $125,000 Ashley T. Cole Stakes for New York breds by a half-length over Dakota Gold. It was 1 1/2 lengths back to Jerry the Nipper in third.

City Man, the 2-1 favorite, finished fourth and was followed by Saratoga Flash, Cable Ready, and Kaz Sugar Bank.

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When Goldfarb and Cox talked earlier this year about having horses together, Goldfarb told Cox that he no longer spends big money on yearlings.

“He said, ‘get me something,’ “ Goldfarb said.

The two have claimed several horses in New York since the spring including Emirates Road, who has won twice, Fighting Back, who has one win, and Iridescent and Magia Nera, both of whom have finished a close second.

“So far, just about everything I’ve got with Brad has done unbelievable,” Goldfarb said.

As for claiming Hush of a Storm, Goldfarb said, “I thought he was worth the money. Brad and I go back awhile, we were looking for some good stuff to claim. I thought he could run here, take him to Turfway if we had to.”

In his first start off the claim, Hush of a Storm ran third behind Forever Souper in the $79,500 Avery Whisman Stakes at Presque Isle Downs. Forever Souper came back to win the Presque Isle Mile in his next start.

Friday, Hush of a Storm, who as a 3-year-old won the John Battaglia at Turfway Park for William Morey, was in the back of the pack early under Prat. After Saratoga Flash ran a quick first quarter of 23.61 seconds, he slowed the pace down to 50.26 seconds for the half and 1:15.82 for six furlongs.

Prat saved all the ground on Hush of a Storm before tipping out into the clear turning for home. When Prat asked, Hush of a Storm responded, outfinishing Dakota Gold to get the victory.

“The first quarter they felt like they were going a good clip,” Prat said. “After that, they really slowed it down and I was a bit worried that they’d kick away from us. But he ran a good race.”

Hush of a Storm, by Creative Cause, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.03 over firm turf and returned $8.50 as the third choice.

Dakota Gold, the 5-2 second choice coming off a victory in the West Point Stakes at Saratoga, was last early but moved up midway down backside. Jockey Dylan Davis felt the pace was too slow and didn’t want to leave his horse too much to do late. While Dakota Gold did make his run, he was just second best.

“That horse really had to run to run me down, my horse was running,” Davis said. “He ran great.”

Both horses could meet again in the $200,000 Mohawk Stakes here on Oct. 27.

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