Stormy Rush outduels Bold Thunder in Lincoln

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - In what amounted to a two-horse race from the top of the stretch to the wire, the 2-1 Stormy Rush ran down the 7-5 Bold Thunder to register a 1 1/4-length victory in the $75,000 Lincoln overnight stakes Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The win was the third on the day for jockey Gilberto Saez.

Stormy Rush stalked the early pace of the five-furlong Lincoln, set by Bold Thunder and forced briefly by Louisiana invader Jo Jo’s Comet. Bold Thunder held a clear advantage approaching the stretch and dug in gamely when hooked by the winner at the top of the stretch. But Stormy Rush proved too good, edging clear approaching the wire. Bon Accord rallied mildly to finish another 3 3/4 lengths farther back in third.

The win was the second in a row for Stormy Rush, a 6-year-old son of Stormy Atlantic who is trained by Lorne Richards for True North Stable. The winner returned $6.60 as the second choice in a field of nine sprint specialists after completing the distance in 55.58 over a “good” turf course.

“It was a perfect trip," Richards said. "That’s what you need to win, for me anyway. Everything fell into place. The kid rode him well. I thought if he didn’t win a stakes today, he never would.”