New York-bred Hush of a Storm benefitted from a duel between his stablemate Pico d'Oro (Curlin) and even-money GISW Gretzky the Great (Nyquist) to remain perfect on the Tapeta and score a first stakes win after surviving a lengthy inquiry. A no show when unveiled in a $150,000 maiden claiming sprint at Churchill Nov. 19, the bay woke up on the surface switch and stretch out to air by 5 1/2 lengths at 14-1 odds here Dec. 19. He doubled up in an optional claimer Jan. 6, earning a 74 Beyer Speed Figure that stacked up well enough with everyone but the chalk.
Hush of a Storm tucked in along the fence towards the back as Pico d'Oro took it to Gretzky the Great through splits of :23.86 and :47.11. He advanced in between rivals heading for home, came wide for the stretch drive and continued along to hit the front in midstretch. Shifting in as he took over, Hush of a Storm appeared to trigger a chain reaction that forced Like the King to into Gretzky with Hard Rye Guy (Hard Spun) also taking up in between. After many views of a head-on replay that appeared inconclusive, the stewards let the result stand.
With the victory, Hush of a Storm earned 10 qualifying points towards the GI Kentucky Derby.
The winner is out of a full sister to pricey 2-year-old seller and MSW/MGSP Brigand (Flatter). He has a 2-year-old half-sister by Runhappy and a yearling half-brother by Mastery. Hush Now most recently visited Distorted Humor.
JOHN BATTAGLIA MEMORIAL S., $82,830, Turfway, 2-26, 3yo,
1 1/16m (AWT), 1:44.00, ft.
1–HUSH OF A STORM, 118, c, 3, by Creative Cause
1st Dam: Hush Now, by Flatter
2nd Dam: Silence Please, by Quiet American
3rd Dam: Notice Me, by Distinctive
($60,000 Ylg '19 SARAUG; $75,000 2yo '20 OBSAPR).
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Joseph P. Morey, Jr. Revocable Trust;
B-Berkshire Stud (NY); T-William E. Morey; J-Santiago
Gonzalez. $43,710. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, $65,985.
2–Like the King, 118, c, 3, Palace Malice–Like a Queen, by
Corinthian. ($28,000 Wlg '18 KEENOV; $170,000 Ylg '19
OBSOCT). O-M Racing Group, LLC; B-Horseshoe Racing, LLC
(KY); T-Wesley A. Ward. $18,800.
3–Gretzky the Great, 124, c, 3, Nyquist–Pearl Turn, by
Bernardini. ($295,000 RNA Ylg '19 FTKOCT). O-Eclipse
Thoroughbred Partners and Barber, Gary; B-Anderson Farms
Ont. Inc. (ON); T-Mark E. Casse. $7,050.
Margins: 1HF, NK, 1 1/4. Odds: 6.70, 5.20, 1.00.
Also Ran: Hard Rye Guy, Catman, Twirling Mamba, Fort Moultrie, Pico d'Oro, Notable Exception, The Predicament, Bakwena. Scratched: Kinetic Sky, Warrior in Chief. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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