Stormy Embrace earns BC berth with Princess Rooney repeat

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Stormy Embrace successfully defended her title in the Grade 2, $250,000 Princess Rooney and earned herself a second straight automatic, expenses-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint with a popular two-length victory over Trenchtown Cat in the main event on Saturday’s 14-race Summit of Speed program at Gulfstream Park.

Stormy Embrace became the fourth filly to post back-to-back wins in the Princess Rooney and first since Gold Mover accomplished the feat in 2002-03. A homebred daughter of Circular Quay owned by Matalona Thoroughbreds, Stormy Embrace is trained by Kathleen O’Connell and was ridden to victory by Wilmer Garcia.

Stormy Embrace settled in perfect stalking position just outside early pacesetters Razorback Lady and Saguaro Row. The defending winner stuck her head in front while still in reserve midway the turn, was allowed to fan out to the middle of the racetrack entering the stretch, then withstood a strong challenge from Trenchtown Cat when sharply roused by Garcia through midstretch.

Trenchtown Cat, the only 3-year-old in the field, advanced outside Stormy Embrace nearing the stretch, continued gamely down the lane but proved no match while easily second-best, finishing 5 1/4 lengths in front of third-place finisher Royal Asscher. Razorback Lady, Weekend Mischief, and Saguaro Row completed the order of finish.

Stormy Embrace completed seven furlongs in 1:22.99 over a track that started out sloppy but was upgraded to good earlier in the day.

“God bless her, the best thing about her is she’ll do whatever you want,” said O’Connell. “She’s got speed if you ask, but if she’s going to go overboard Wilmer’s got a great set of hands and he really fits her well. He’s ridden her enough times, I have confidence in him and the rapport he has with her.”

O’Connell said although Stormy Embrace didn’t win the Princess Rooney as easily as she did a year ago, her performance on Saturday was equally as impressive.

“The track wasn’t exactly perfect, it wasn’t a fast track but kind of that in-between kind, and I was worried about that,” said O’Connell. “Sometimes you wish it would keep raining so it was sloppy and easier to go through than kind of a drying-out track. I just wanted a safe track, a safe trip. The [final] time means nothing.”