Weatherstorm seeks third stakes

MUSKEGON, Mich. - Weather-storm will be looking to add to his winning stakes record at Great Lakes Downs when he faces eight 3-year-old Michigan-bred colts and geldings in the $50,000 Spartan Stakes on Tuesday. A seven-furlong race, the Spartan is the sixth race on the card, which has a first post of 5:10 p.m. All starters will carry 122 pounds.

Weatherstorm is 4 for 6 at Great Lakes Downs, including wins in the $144,000 Michigan Sire Stakes last year and the Lansing Stakes on June 12, both within his age group. In May, he scored a 1 1/4-length win in an allowance against older horses. His earnings of $143,499 easily best those of his rivals in the Spartan. Owned by Marion Gorham and trained by Dr. Robert Gorham, Weatherstorm will be ridden by Terry Houghton, the leading rider at Great Lakes Downs.

Robert Gorham will also saddle Shoot with Pride for owner Henry Mast of Mast Thoroughbreds LLC. Shoot with Pride, the third choice on the morning line, was third in the Lansing Stakes. Freddie Mata will ride.

Prince Nick, who finished second in the Lansing, is the second choice in the Spartan. Trained by Gerald Bennett, the meet's leading trainer, Prince Nick has won 2 of 4 starts, all at this track. Jose J. Delgado will ride.

Bennett will also saddle Zephyr Charlie, who will be ridden by Roberto Villafan.

The rest of the Spartan field is Marquetry Sky, Glenmore Mayhew the rider; Heza Hemi, Joe Judice; Kyle's Treasury, Lyndon Hannigan; Stover, Mary Doser; and Grrrifeck, Jorge E. Collazo Jr. Scott Sowle trains both Kyle's Treasury and Stover, but there are no stable couplings in the nine-horse field.