Storm Miami can steal Waya in new calling as marathoner
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Although her sire, Blue Point, was a multiple Group 1-winning sprinter who only once raced beyond six furlongs, Storm Miami’s career never really took off until trainer Amelia Green decided to try her around three turns for the first time earlier this year in the Grade 3 Sheepshead Bay.
Storm Miami has been graded stakes-placed in two of her three starts as a long-distance specialist and Friday at Saratoga looms the likely favorite to finally become a graded stakes winner when going 1 3/8 miles in the $225,000 Waya Stakes. It is unusual that the Grade 3 fixture’s field of nine older fillies and mares lacks a horse from the barn of trainer Chad Brown, who has won this event eight times, including five of the last six renewals.
Storm Miami has finished in the money in all three of her three-turn races this season but was disqualified from third and placed fourth for causing interference through the stretch run of the Grade 3 Robert G. Dick Memorial at Delaware Park on June 13. That effort was sandwiched between a game second in the Sheepshead Bay at Aqueduct on May 3 and a second-place finish in the Grade 2 Glens Falls in her most recent start. Storm Miami’s effort in the Glens Falls was flattered when the winner, Survie, returned to beat males in the Grade 1 Christophe Clement here just 13 days later.
“She’s been running some good numbers and was defeated by a horse who beat the boys in her next start, which has to give us confidence coming into this race,” said Green, who took over the training duties of Storm Miami at the start of the mare’s 2026 campaign.
Storm Miami has been on the lead in each of her three-turn races and figures to have her own way on the front end once again in the Waya.
“She looks to be the speed of the race and although I’m not sure she exactly needs the lead, if she can get it that will still be the plan,” Green acknowledged. “She’s a little filly who has a galloping stride and never seems to tire, which is what originally made us think of stretching her out. And so far, it’s certainly worked out for the best.”
Storm Miami is one of three members of the field turning back in distance coming out of the 1 1/2-mile Glens Falls along with Massarat and Venencia, who finished fourth and eighth, respectively.
Massarat is an improving sort who was making her graded stakes debut in the Glens Falls. She earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 88 that day after getting a nice ground-saving saving trip under jockey Manny Franco, who will have the mount once again for trainer Brendan Walsh. She is one of two fillies Walsh has entered in the race along with Snipsnippitysnip.
Venencia, who won the Grade 3 Dowager last fall at Churchill Downs for Walsh, was purchased privately by Miller Racing LLC and transferred to trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.’s barn following that performance. She was never a serious factor in the Glens Falls and must carry high weight of 126 pounds under the allowance conditions of the Waya.
Silvology appears to be rounding back to peak form after winning a second-level allowance and optional-claiming race going 11 furlongs for trainer Shug McGaughey over this course five weeks ago. The win came in just her second start following a 13-month hiatus that ended in June.
The Grade 2-placed Evershed, runner-up here a year ago in the Saratoga Oaks Invitational; recent maiden winner Whitethorn; restricted stakes winner Awesomesauce; and Unmerited Favor complete the field.
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