Stormy Liberal looks to put the shine back on

ARCADIA, Calif. – Six months ago, Stormy Liberal ran a game third in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai, finishing two lengths behind the brilliant Blue Point.

Blue Point later won two Group 1 races at Royal Ascot in June. Conversely, Stormy Liberal struggled in late summer, finishing third and fifth in stakes at Del Mar and Kentucky Downs.

The champion turf male of 2018, Stormy Liberal starts in Friday’s Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes at five furlongs on turf at Santa Anita with a slightly dented reputation. Stormy Liberal is winless in five starts this year, leaving trainer Peter Miller hopeful the 7-year-old gelding can rebound in the $200,000 Eddie D Stakes in preparation for an attempt at an unprecedented third consecutive win in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint here Nov. 2.

“He hasn’t been as sharp as he was a year ago,” Miller said. “Our goal is the Breeders’ Cup and a three-peat. This is not the end-all, be-all.”

Stormy Liberal will be tested in the Eddie D Stakes, which drew a very strong field of eight, including seven stakes winners.

Stormy Liberal, who won the 2018 Eddie D, was third behind Mr Vargas and Eddie Haskell in the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap on Aug. 17 at Del Mar in his first start since Dubai and later fifth in the Grade 3 Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint on Sept. 7.

“I’d like to see him run a little better,” Miller said. “He didn’t handle the course at Kentucky Downs. I didn’t have him ready for the first one.

“It looks like there is a lot of speed in the race. He should be sitting in a good spot.”

Mr Vargas and Eddie Haskell are two other leading contenders in the Eddie D Stakes.

Mr Vargas won his stakes debut in the Green Flash, leading throughout. A similar trip could be difficult in the Eddie D, with speedy runners such as Pee Wee Reese and Boa Nova in the field.

“He doesn’t have to be on the lead,” trainer Brian Koriner said.

A 5-year-old gelding, Mr Vargas won an allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar on July 21 for his first win on the surface in his third attempt.

“This year, he’s really turned up his speed on the grass,” Koriner said.

Eddie Haskell was the beaten favorite in the Green Flash, a loss that ended a three-race winning streak that included two five-furlong sprint stakes on turf here in May and June.

Joel Rosario takes the mount from Kent Desormeaux, who was aboard for Eddie Haskell’s last five starts. Rosario rode Eddie Haskell to two wins in as many starts in turf sprints last December and February.

“They’ve both ridden the horse successfully,” trainer Mark Glatt said. “Kent rode him extremely well. Rosario made himself available to ride the horse. I left it up to the owners, and they chose to go with Joel.”

Glatt is banking on a sharp pace to help Eddie Haskell’s rally.

“We need it to set up right,” Glatt said.