Storm Harbor tries to regain lost luster
?q=100)
Barkley, winner of his first six career races at 2 and 3, and at age 5 the Longacres Mile, is one of the most accomplished horses in Emerald Downs history. So when one of his daughters, the 3-year-old Storm Harbor, romped to a 7 1/4-length victory while posting a 76 Beyer Speed Figure here May 9, it couldn’t be considered entirely surprising.
Still, that five-furlong race was Storm Harbor’s first – and a buzzy one at that. Next up, she was the second choice in an allowance that pitted her against five more accomplished rivals, three of them stakes winners. Here, she showed her inexperience, racing out to a too-bold lead while pressured by Falling Leaves and finishing a tiring fourth over 5 1/2 furlongs for trainer Steve Bullock.
“She didn’t break quite as sharp and was rushed up and pressured the whole way, 21 and change,” Bullock said. “They kind of set it up for the closer. They kind of burned each other out. That was a salty race. It was a prep for the stake [Seattle Stakes]. The first time was like a gallop for her.”
The company won’t get much easier in Sunday’s featured seventh race, a $24,000 allowance for fillies and mares ages 3 and up at six furlongs. Storm Harbor will face older horses for the first time, although it’s another 3-year-old, Subtle Shimmer, who looks to be her stiffest competition.
If Storm Harbor runs back to her debut, Bullock will have to consider the June 21 Seattle Stakes, a six-furlong affair for 3-year-old fillies.
“It’s a possibility if she runs good,” Bullock said. “It’s a short meet for us. We only stay here. If you miss many opportunities, you don’t get to run much. It’s not like we’re going to ship her somewhere.”
Bullock’s other Sunday entries are a pair of 4-year-olds in six-furlong sprints – West Coast Bull in race 1 and Calmcoolncollected in race 4.
In his 2026 debut on May 16, West Coast Bull, drawn at the rail, engaged in an early speed duel with Goin’ South, one that left both horses vulnerable to a closing run from the eventual winner, Jimmy B. Goin’ South wound up finishing second, with West Coast Bull third. The two have a repeat engagement Sunday, with West Coast Bull again in post 1 and Goin’ South on the outside of a five-horse field.
“Bad post, going with South again – they both ding-donged and ran second and third in that race,” Bullock said. “South is definitely the horse to beat, but I think we should improve after getting an out.”
Bullock feels the same way about Calmcoolncollected, second by a length in his 2026 debut May 23.
“That horse should run real well,” Bullock said. “Normally, my horses run better second and third off a layoff.”
◗ The Western Canadian invasion of Emerald Downs extends to Alberta on Sunday, when a pair of Lethbridge shippers, Mischievous Emma and Inzaway, run in races 3 and 6, respectively. The two longshots are trained by Fidel Alejandre and will be ridden by Carlos Montalvo.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.