Locked in Eclipse battle, Got Stormy to run in Matriarch

DEL MAR, Calif. – Got Stormy, runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita earlier this month, will make another trip west, this time for the Grade 1, $300,000 Matriarch Stakes on Dec. 1, closing-day of Del Mar’s fall meeting, trainer Mark Casse informed Thursday.

Got Stormy is one of the leading candidates for the female turf championship. She has traded two head-to-head decisions in Grade 1 races with Uni, the Breeders’ Cup Mile winner. Got Stormy beat Uni in the Fourstardave at Saratoga. Uni has two Grade 1 wins this year, her other coming in the First Lady at Keeneland. Got Stormy would be seeking her second Grade 1 win of the year in the Matriarch.

The Matriarch, at one mile on turf, would mark a return to a race restricted to fillies and mares for Got Stormy, who has made her last three starts in races against open company. In between the Fourstardave and Breeders’ Cup Mile, she was second in the Woodbine Mile.

Casse said Got Stormy would be sent to California on Nov. 24, one week prior to the Matriarch.

Got Stormy is one of six horses Casse has nominated to the closing-week turf festival. He also has Osage Moon and Uncle Bull, both recent allowance winners at Woodbine, for the Grade 1, $300,000 Hollywood Derby on Nov. 30, and Curlin’s Honor, winner of the Artie Schiller Stakes last Saturday at Aqueduct, for the Grade 2, $200,000 Seabiscuit for older horses, also Nov. 30.

David Jerkens, racing secretary at Del Mar, on Thursday morning said he has been encouraged by the pace of nominations so far from Eastern-based trainers like Casse. Brad Cox has nominated several runners, including Joe Hirsch Turf Classic winner Arklow, who is intended for the Grade 2, $200,000 Hollywood Turf Cup on Nov. 29, and Mike Maker has already nominated four horses, including Henley’s Joy, the Belmont Derby winner, who is slated for the Hollywood Derby.

More nominations should be known over the weekend, as the final day to nominate for all the turf festival stakes is Saturday.