Whiteout Storm tries for first win on Tapeta

ALBANY, Calif. - Whiteout Storm is in the same boat as four of the eight other horses in Sunday's Golden Gate Fields feature: His only victory came on the turf and he will be running on the Tapeta main track in the starter-allowance race. The 1o1/16-mile race is for horses that have run for a claiming tag of $40,000 or less at some point in their career and only have one win.

Whiteout Storm has run on turf in his last four races and hasn't run on a main track since a fourth-place finish in a maiden-claiming sprint on the Hollywood Cushion Track in July. He hasn't run since winning a $32,000 maiden claimer on the Golden Gate turf on Nov. 10.

Whiteout Storm got his start in Southern California, coming north for the first time Aug. 19 at the Bay Meadows Fair for trainer Patrick Gallagher, who left him there with Sergio Ledezma. He faded badly after setting a pressured pace in a $32,000 maiden claimer on the Bay Meadows turf in his Sept. 16 debut for Ledezma, and ran second in his next start in a similar race Oct. 6 before going wire to wire in his maiden win.

"The colt was in really good shape when I got him," Ledezma said, "and he's really started to mature. Even though he's set the pace, I don't think he needs the lead to run well."

In the two months since his last race, Whiteout Storm has worked five times, including a pair of seven-furlong workouts, which Ledezma says has kept him plenty fit.

Sunday's race also includes Rossmoor, who drew the rail after a dull try in his turf debut but has finished second over the Tapeta here; and Grecian Spur and Cascadia's Star, both of whom won sprinting on the main track.

Wellnessfast has finished fourth and second in his last two starts, which came on the turf in Southern California at the level of Sunday's feature. He won his maiden on the turf course here last spring. Nakiska won on the turf here Dec. 2. Elegant Victory, who ran third on the Tapeta two starts back, and Obscured Rhythm, who is 0 for 2 on the main track, also graduated on the turf.

* Beginning Monday, members of the Thoroughbred Club will receive free clubhouse admission on Mondays for the remainder of the meet.