Storm Changer surges late, surprises with Park Avenue triumph
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OZONE PARK, N.Y. - A cutback in distance and a reunion with jockey Jose Gomez helped Storm Changer pull off a 12-1 upset in Sunday’s $200,000 Park Avenue division of the New York Stallion Series at Aqueduct.
After saving ground down the backside, Storm Changer was tipped six wide by Gomez turning for home. Though Disco Star cut the corner under Dylan Davis and seemed to get the jump on her, Storm Changer kept coming and ran by Disco Star late while holding off a slow-starting Princess Mischief to win by a half-length. Princess Mischief was a nose better than Disco Star.
It was 3 3/4 lengths back to Decree and Declare, who was followed, in order, by Howling Wind, Bam’s Bliss Kiss, Royal Event and Forever to Go. Fedupwiththefed and Lazy Y Legacy scratched.
Storm Changer, a 3-year-old homebred daughter of Name Changer for Peter Kazamias, won for the second time from five starts. She was making her first start for trainer Carlos Martin, who got Storm Changer because previous trainer Dimitrios Synnefias is serving a 30-day suspension for multiple medication violations.
Gomez was riding Storm Changer for the third time. He was aboard for her 11-1 debut victory here on Nov. 16 and for her second-place finish behind Bernieandtherose in the East View Stakes. Gomez was not aboard for her seventh-place finish in the Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Series in December, or for her fifth-place finish in the Maddie May last time out.
The Park Avenue represented a turnback from a mile to 6 1/2 furlongs.
Gomez said he wasn’t worried when he had to go wide approaching the quarter pole.
“Everything seems to be running well down the middle of the racetrack,” Gomez said. “When it was time to go we asked her, she was there. They came running, but she was much the best today."
Storm Changer covered the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:18.35 and returned $27.80 as the 12-1 seventh choice in the eight-horse field.
“It seemed like a lot of speed in the race,” Martin said. “I told him let her settle and just finish. I knew if she’d finish she’d have a chance.”
Princess Mischief, under Eric Cancel, broke last and came with a strong late run that fell just short.
“She’s a filly that usually comes from behind, so I wasn’t surprised about it,” Cancel said of his filly breaking slowly. “I let her do her thing and once I felt that it was time to go, I started angling her out and she just kicked in, had a really nice run in her. It was just unfortunate that the horse that won had a bit more at the end to hold on.”
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