Stormy’s Majesty wins Albany

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - As he watched the early stages of Wednesday’s $100,000 Albany Stakes unfold and saw both of his horses, Johannesburg Smile and Stormy’s Majesty, dueling on the lead, trainer Dominic Galluscio panicked a little bit.

“I said, ‘What am I doing here? I got two of the best riders in the world. I hope they know what they’re doing,’ ” Galluscio said.

Edgar Prado, aboard Stormy’s Majesty, knew exactly what he was doing, as he kept his one-paced colt in stride, opened up a lead turning for home, then held off the late and wide charge of the favored Ibboyee to win the Albany by a neck. It was three-quarters of a length to Johannesburg Smile in third.

The victory was the fourth from five starts for Stormy’s Majesty. All four wins have come in New York-bred company. The loss was a last-place finish in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy last month.

“I might have tried him against too tough a horse too prematurely in the Jim Dandy,” Galluscio said.

Stormy’s Majesty broke from post 2 in the Albany and was forwardly placed by Prado, inside of Johannesburg Smile, under Javier Castellano. The two were in close contention through fractions of 23.79 seconds, 47.85, and 1:12.11 for six furlongs.

“Definitely I was a little concerned seeing the other half of the entry chasing me,” Prado said. “I was hoping he didn’t burn me early, but he was dong everything pretty relaxed. He was pricking his ears, he was happy, I was getting a good feeling on the backside.”

At the three-eighths pole, Stormy’s Majesty wrested the lead from Johannesburg Smile, and then opened up a sizable advantage off the turn. Johannesburg Smile tried to run back at Stormy’s Majesty, but it was Ibboyee, who was rallying wide down the center of the track, who was the major threat. But Stormy’s Majesty was able to hold on.

Stormy’s Majesty, a son of Stormy Atlantic owned and bred by Digby Barrio’s Majesty Stud, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.55 and returned $5.50 to win.