Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile Draws Multiple Grade 1 Winner Got Stormy

My Racehorse CA and Spendthrift Farm's Got Stormy heads a field of seven fillies and mares for the 36th running of the $500,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) at Churchill Downs, on the undercard of the Kentucky Derby.

The Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile will go as the day's sixth race with a 1:14 p.m. post time.

Trained by Mark Casse and featuring earnings of more than $2 million, Got Stormy will be making her second start in this race having finished second in 2019. A Grade 1 winner against males and females, Got Stormy opened her 2021 campaign with a nose victory over Saturday rival Zofelle in the Honey Fox (G3) Feb. 27 at Gulfstream Park.

A six-time graded stakes winner, Got Stormy will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione and break from post five.

The field for the Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile, with riders and weights from the rail out, is:

  1. Jakarta (Luis Saez, 118 pounds)
  2. She's Got You (Javier Castellano, 118)
  3. New York Girl (John Velazquez, 118)
  4. Zofelle (Irad Ortiz Jr., 118)
  5. Got Stormy (Tyler Gaffalione, 118)
  6. Blowout (Flavien Prat, 118)
  7. Abscond (Joel Rosario, 118)

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Got Stormy Noses Out Zofelle In 6-Year-Old Debut in Honey Fox

My Racehorse CA and Spendthrift Farm's multiple Grade 1 winner Got Stormy reeled in long shot pacesetter Jakarta in mid-stretch and held off a furious late bid from graded-stakes winner Zofelle by a nose to make a triumphant 6-year-old debut in Saturday's $125,000 Honey Fox (G3) at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

The 36th running of the one-mile Honey Fox for older turf females was the sixth of nine stakes, eight graded, worth $1.475 million on a blockbuster 14-race program headlined by the $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) for 3-year-olds on the road to the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa March 27, and $200,000 Davona Dale (G2) featuring the seasonal debut of 2-year-old filly champion Vequist.

With regular rider Tyler Gaffalione aboard for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, Got Stormy ($4.20) completed the distance in 1:35.52 over a firm course to earn her 11th career victory and push her bankroll further over the $2 million mark. Sent off as the even-money favorite in a field of eight, Got Stormy was racing for the first time since running fifth against males in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) Nov. 7.

It was the second win of the day for Gaffalione and helped provide of measure of relief for Casse. Earlier in the day, Casse ran second by a nose with Olympic Runner in the $125,000 Canadian Turf (G3) and saw Spanish Loveaffair disqualified from first to fourth in the $100,000 Herecomesthebride (G3).

Gaffalione settled Got Stormy in second behind Claiming Crown Distaff Dash winner Jakarta, who finished third to Got Stormy after setting the pace in the Franklin County (G3) last fall at Keeneland. Jakarta posted splits of 24.29 seconds, 48.76 and 1:12.72 and maintained the lead turning for home. Got Stormy ranged up in the straight and drew even inside the eighth pole as Zofelle began rolling on the outside, setting up the spirited bid to the wire.

Feel Glorious was part of the photo finish, running third, with Jakarta fourth and Art of Almost fifth.

$125,000 Honey Fox (G3) Quotes

Winning trainer Mark Casse (Got Stormy): “She had a great spot. Just kind of what we thought, we thought the horse that was on the lead would be there and she was sitting nice. She kicked and you could see a little bit of the rustiness today. She kicked, but she didn't kick as hard as she does sometimes. I think she'll build from this and get better.”

“I just wanted to get over this. I called [Spendthrift GM] Ned [Toffey] and said I figured out where I wanted to come back and I told him, and he said, 'Fine.' We'll see what's next. A lot of it depends on weather. She can't go over a mile, and it needs to be hard if it's a mile.”

“She was in the sale and I knew what the reserve was, and when she went over it my wife and I were watching from the office and it was sad. It was sad. And then about 20 minutes later I got a phone call that I wasn't expecting and [Spendthrift GM] Ned Toffey said to me, 'Let me ask you a dumb question. We'd like to run her another year, would you like to train her?' We went from being sad to very happy. We're excited we were able to deliver. I thought maybe last year getting her ready for her first race back I didn't do such a good job, and this year we cranked her up a little more.”

“I was really confident with her, as long as the turf stayed hard. She should build from this; it's just which direction do we go. She can do a little bit of anything. I don't know. We may sprint her. Never over a mile though.”

“They don't come around very often. We got her after a couple starts and she just got better and better. People always ask me what go ther better and it was just her confidence and much better on the racetrack. She used to be very nervous and now wherever you take her, she gets out of the van, looks around, and says, 'Where have you taken me now?'”

Winning jockey Tyler Gaffalione (Got Stormy): “She's a tremendous filly. I've been able to get to know her the past few years and I have a lot of confidence every time I'm on her. She shows up every time. Really all the credit goes to Mark and his team to get her ready off the layoff. She fired a big one today.”

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Got Stormy Gets the Bob in Honey Fox

Got Stormy scored her first win for her new connections Saturday in Gulfstream's GIII Honey Fox S. Heavily favored in this seasonal bow, the chestnut broke on top, but was overtaken by Jakarta (Bustin Stones) and settled in second through an opening quarter in :24.29 and a half in :48.76. Challenging the pacesetter on the far turn, the $2.75 million FTKNOV buy surged to the front in the final strides and held off a late bid from Zofelle (Ire) to win by a nose.

“She had a great spot,” said trainer Mark Casse. “Just kind of what we thought, we thought the horse that was on the lead would be there and she was sitting nice. She kicked and you could see a little bit of the rustiness today. She kicked, but she didn't kick as hard as she does sometimes. I think she'll build from this and get better.”

He continued,  “I was really confident with her, as long as the turf stayed hard. She should build from this; it's just which direction do we go. She can do a little bit of anything. I don't know. We may sprint her. Never over a mile though.”

“She's a tremendous filly,” said jockey Tyler Gaffalione. “I've been able to get to know her the past few years and I have a lot of confidence every time I'm on her. She shows up every time. Really all the credit goes to Mark and his team to get her ready off the layoff. She fired a big one today.”

Winner of the GI Fourstardave H. and GI Matriarch S. in 2019, Got Stormy was second in both the GI Woodbine Mile and GI Breeders' Cup Mile that season. Off the board in last term's GIII Endeavour S., she was a close second in the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile last winter and was fourth in both the GIII Beaugay S. and GIII Poker S. Got Stormy finished second when attempting to defend her Fourstardave title last summer, but captured the GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint S. next out Sept. 12. Rallying to victory in the GIII Buffalo Trace Franklin County S. next out at Keeneland Oct. 9, the speedy chestnut was fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint S. at the venue Nov. 7 and went through the ring at Fasig-Tipton the next day, bringing $2.75 million from Spendthrift Farm. They returned her to Mark Casse's barn and My Racehorse, who teamed up with Spendthrift on Horse of the Year Authentic (Into Mischief), joined in as a partner.

Saturday, Gulfstream Park
HONEY FOX S.-GIII, $125,000, Gulfstream, 2-27, 4yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:35.52, fm.
1–GOT STORMY, 123, m, 6, by Get Stormy
1st Dam: Super Phoebe, by Malabar Gold
2nd Dam: Air France, by French Deputy
3rd Dam: Twin Propeller, by Known Fact

($23,000 Ylg '16 KEESEP; $45,000 2yo '17 EASMAY; $2,750,000
5yo '20 FTKNOV). O-My Racehorse CA, LLC & Spendthrift Farm
LLC; B-Mt. Joy Stables, Pope, Pope Jr. & Marc McLean (KY);
T-Mark E. Casse; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $75,175. Lifetime Record:
MGISW, 27-11-5-3, $2,096,553. *1/2 to Sky Gold (Successful
Appeal), SP, $151,020. Werk Nick Rating: A. 
   Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Zofelle (Ire), 123, m, 5, Zoffany (Ire)–Height of Elegance (Ire),
by Galileo (Ire). (27,000gns 3yo '19 TATJUL). O-Heider Family
Stables LLC; B-Fullbury & Minch Bloodstock (IRE); T-Brendan P.
Walsh. $24,250.
3–Feel Glorious (GB), 120, m, 5, Bated Breath (GB)–Self
Centred (GB), by Medicean (GB). (52,000gns Ylg '17 TAOCT;
130,000gns 2yo '18 TATAHI). O-Reeves Thoroughbred Racing
& Tango Uniform Racing LLC; B-Mrs E. C. Roberts (GB);
T-Christophe Clement. $12,125.
Margins: NO, NK, NK. Odds: 1.10, 1.50, 11.20.
Also Ran: Jakarta, Art of Almost, Ricetta (GB), Secret Time (Ger), Bienville Street. Scratched: Nomizar. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

Pedigree Notes:
Got Stormy is the only Grade I winner for her sire Get Stormy and is one of six graded winners and nine black-type scorers for the stallion. Her dam Super Phoebe is a half-sister to MGSW & MGISP Smooth Air (Smooth Jazz) and GSW Overdriven (Tale of the Cat). The 17-year-old mare is also responsible for the sophomore colt Got Curly (Super Saver); a juvenile colt by Mohaymen, who brought $315,000 at the Fasig-Tipton October Sale; and a yearling colt by Bolt d'Oro. She was bred back to Uncle Mo.

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Got Stormy Makes Seasonal Bow in Honey Fox

MGISW Got Stormy (Get Stormy) makes her first start for her new owners Saturday in Gulfstream's GIII Honey Fox S. Winner of the GI Fourstardave H. and GI Matriarch S. in 2019, the chestnut checked in second against males in this year's renewal of the Fourstardave Aug. 22. The chestnut captured the GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint S. Sept. 12 and followed suit with a win in Keeneland's GIII Buffalo Trace Franklin County S. Oct. 9. Closing out her 2020 campaign with a fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint S. Nov. 7 at Keeneland, Got Stormy was purchased by Spendthrift Farm for $2.75-million at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale and returned to Mark Casse's care for another year. My Racehorse, who partnered with Spendthrift on reigning Horse of the Year Authentic (Into Mischief), teams up with B. Wayne Hughes's operation again on this popular mare.

“We're very pleased with her. Last year I felt like maybe I didn't have her quite as ready for her first start when we ran her, and the one thing I did was I tried to get her ready on the dirt,” Casse said. “So, this year I changed my mind and I sent her down and she's been breezing over the turf. She loves to breeze on the turf. She should be a good and ready.”

Zofelle (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) was a close second in the Sand Springs S. here last March and completed the trifecta in the GIII Mint Julep S. at Churchill May 30. Tiring to fifth after a wide trip behind Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in Belmont's GI Just a Game S. June 27, the bay kicked off this term with a late-rallying score in the GIII Marshua's River S. over course and distance Jan. 23.

MSW Feel Glorious (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) has been knocking at the door of a graded success for most of her career. Third in both the GII New York S. and GIII Matchmaker S. last summer, the bay captured Saratoga's Perfect Sting S. in August, but failed to fire when seventh in Belmont's GIII Noble Damsel S. Sept. 26. Fourth in that venue's GIII Athenia S. Oct. 25, she won the Forever Together S. at Aqueduct last time Nov. 27.

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