Storm the Beach nips One Key at the wire in Manzano Stakes

Storm the Beach became a stakes winner on Saturday night, when he got up for a neck win over One Key in the $50,000 Manzano for 2-year-olds at The Downs at Albuquerque. It was another length back in third to Just Call Me Ken.

Storm the Beach ($16.20) was always prominent, as he stalked One Key through fractions of 22.84 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.04 for the half-mile. Storm the Beach overtook that rival late while covering six furlongs on a fast track in 1:12.82.

Enrique Gomez rode the winner for J & SM Inc., and trainer Fred Danley.

Hardworkcleanlivin, who was favored in the Manzano off a third place finish in the Grade 3 Bashford Manor in June at Churchill Downs, broke next to last and finished fifth Saturday.

Storm the Beach has now won 3 of 5 starts and the $30,000 he earned for his Manzano pushed his career bankroll to $72,370. Storm the Beach, who is a son of Attila’s Storm, was making his first start outside of the New Mexico-bred ranks on Saturday. He had placed in a pair of stakes prior to the Manzano.