Miller expecting Stormy Sunset to handle move to dirt
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Three weeks after she finished a game second in a maiden race for turf sprinters at Del Mar, Stormy Sunset will race for the first time on dirt in a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs on Friday at Los Alamitos.
The transition from turf to dirt should not be difficult, particularly at Los Alamitos, according to trainer Peter Miller.
“She trains well on the dirt,” Miller said. “We thought we’d give it a go.”
Miller said that a start on dirt at Los Alamitos for a runner with turf experience can be easier than at Santa Anita.
“Santa Anita is a very deep tiring surface,” he said.
Stormy Sunset, who races for Miller and Tom Kagele, is part of a field of six 2-year-old fillies in the second race on an eight-race program at Los Alamitos. The first race is a maiden race for 2-year-old colts at six furlongs.
Stormy Sunset, who will be ridden by Armando Aguilar, drew post 4. Aguilar replaces Antonio Fresu, who was aboard Stormy Sunset when she set the pace and was beaten a neck.
“I was very pleased with the race,” Miller said. “She showed a lot of try.
“I think she should run well on Friday.”
Stormy Sunset may be joined near the front by Furiosity, who starts from the inside post. Trained by Bob Baffert, Furiosity finished ninth of 10 in a maiden race for 2-year-old fillies at 5 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 22 at Del Mar.
Bought for $450,000 in May at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-olds in training sale, Furiosity set the pace before fading from contention. She was fitted with blinkers for that race but will not wear the equipment Friday.
Miller won with two of his first five runners on the opening week of the two-week Los Alamitos September meeting. The brief season ends Sunday. Santa Anita opens its fall meeting on Sept. 25.
Miller could have a big day Friday at Los Alamitos. He has contenders in four other races through the program, including Proud Racer in the third race, Jetway in the fifth race, and Shady Stripes in the final race.
Baffert has the expected favorite in the first race with the debut runner Mystic Ride, who starts from the inside post in a field of five. Purchased for $425,000 at the 2025 Keeneland September yearling sale, Mystic Ride has had a crisp series of workouts at Del Mar and Santa Anita in the last month. Ricky Gonzalez has the mount on Mystic Ride, who is by the first-year stallion Mystic Guide.
Baffert and Gonzalez have teamed to win three races from eight starters since June 1.
Gallant Jack, a first-time starter trained by John Sadler, drew the outside post and is another runner with sharp workouts, notably a half-mile work from the gate in 47 seconds on Aug. 24 at Del Mar. Gallant Jack is by Jack Christopher, a first-year stallion who through Tuesday had six winners from first-time starters.
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