Stormy Novel rebounds in Miss Woodford

Stormy Novel, a beaten favorite at 4-5 in her last start, bounced back with a sharp effort to take Sunday’s $70,000 Miss Woodford Stakes at Monmouth Park.

When the gates opened in the six-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies, Stormy Novel broke sharply from post 10 under jockey Kendrick Carmouche. Under an aggressive ride, Stormy Novel took the lead three wide on the far turn, drew clear entering the stretch, and held on to win by a half-length over Who’s in Town.

“I knew she was coming into this race good,” Carmouche said after the race. “The best I could do was be three wide, and I made the lead a little early, but I kept her going good. I heard them coming at the end, but she never stopped.”

Sharp Kitten and 2-1 favorite Puddifoot vied for the early lead with Red Minx and Stormy Novel – on the outside - in close attendance. Who’s in Town, forwardly placed along the inside, was shuffled back a bit on the far turn, and then rallied in the stretch for the place. Discreetly Elusive, 5-2, finished with a belated bid in the 11-horse field to finish third, a head behind Who’s in Town. Money Game, a 13-1 shot, finished strongly to be fourth, a half-length behind Discreetly Elusive. Puddifoot finished sixth, beaten two lengths.

Stormy Novel was timed in 1:10.67 and paid $16.60 as the fifth wagering choice.

The Miss Woodford was Stormy Novel’s first stakes win. After consecutive maiden and allowance wins, she finished second to Miss Behaviour in the Miss Preakness Stakes. She was 4-5 in the Jostle Stakes at Parx but had to settle for fifth behind Tea Time, who in her next start won the Beautiful Day Stakes at Delaware Park. Stormy Novel is owned by Cam Allard and trained by John Servis.