Stormy Embrace to skip Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint

MIAMI – Despite the fact Stormy Embrace won a fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint by virtue of her victory in the Grade 2 Princess Rooney earlier this summer at Gulfstream Park, trainer Kathleen O’Connell said she and owner Matt Vuskovich have decided to bypass the event.

Stormy Embrace, a homebred daughter of Circular Quay, has won the Princess Rooney each of the last two years. She finished 11th in the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Churchill Downs.

“It’s certainly an honor to go to the Breeders’ Cup,” O’Connell said. “We really didn’t have a chance out of the outside gate last year and what if we sent her all the way out there and drew the rail or post 14 this year? She’s training like a rock star, doing great, but it’s just too hard working out all the logistics and the costs involved. The best alternative we have is the flight through Memphis, with a long layover, and that’s a 14-hour trip at best. It would just be asking too much of her. If the Breeders Cup wasn’t so far away this year, if it wasn’t so hard on the horse to get there, we’d be going. There are other races for her here, and in the long run, Matt and I decided it’s just in the best interests of the filly not to go.”

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Stormy Embrace worked five furlongs in 1:02.60 on Sunday at Gulfstream Park West.

O’Connell said Stormy Embrace would likely make her next start in the $75,000 Sunshine Millions Distaff going seven furlongs on Nov. 9 at Gulfstream Park West.