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Got Stormy Digs Deep, Flies Late To Win Franklin County Stakes

Gary Barber's Grade 1-winning mare Got Stormy made a giant late run in Friday afternoon's Grade 3 Franklin County Stakes at Keeneland, making up over 10 lengths to nail Into Mystic on the wire. A photo finish showed Got Stormy the winner by a head under Tyler Gaffalione, paying $3.80 as the heavy favorite. Trained by Mark Casse, the 5-year-old daughter of Get Stormy ran 5 1/2 furlongs over the turf course rated “good” in 1:02.33.

The Franklin was Got Stormy's second win in a row this season, following her victory in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint Stakes on Sept. 12. She has not been worse than fourth this season, including a second-place finish in the 2020 Grade 1 Fourstardave, the race she won over males in 2019 before a strong second-place finish behind Uni in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

“My goodness, I wasn't sure (if she got there),” Casse said after the Franklin County. “I called (owner) Gary (Barber) and he was like 'I think we got beat.' She got shuffled back pretty good and I was like 'Oh, Tyler'. And then I kind of got excited because I knew when he wheeled her out she would come running. But that second place horse (Into Mystic) was tough, she hung in there. She didn't give it up. But what a wonderful mare (Got Stormy) is. Unbelievable.”

Got Stormy will now be pointed to the Breeders' Cup on Nov. 7 at Keeneland, and Casse said she will run in either the Turf Sprint or the Mile, depending on the condition of the turf course.

Jakarta led the field of 10 through a first quarter-mile in :21.84 as Gaffalione had Got Stormy in ninth and in the clear. Jakarta maintained the advantage through the half-mile, turning back initial bids from Surrender Now and Stillwater Cove.

At the head of the stretch, Into Mystic launched a bid three wide to get first run at the leader while Got Stormy swung six wide with three horses beat to begin her run. Into Mystic got the lead at midstretch from Jakarta but could not hold off the final surge from Got Stormy.

The victory was worth $90,000 and boosted Got Stormy's career earnings to $1,991,378 with a record of 25-10-5-3 that includes two Grade 1 victories.

A Keeneland sales graduate, Got Stormy is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Get Stormy out of the Malabar Gold mare Super Phoebe.

Got Stormy paid $3.80, $3 and $2.60. Into Mystic, ridden by Joe Talamo, returned $4.40 and $2.80 and finished a length in front of Jakarta, who paid $3.80 to show under Javier Castellano.

It was another length back to Change of Control, who was followed in order by Winning Envelope, Surrender Now, Stillwater Cove, Ambassador Luna, Violent Times and Chalon.

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Got Stormy Up In Time in Franklin County

Making just her second lifetime appearance in a true one-turn race and trying a distance as short as 5 1/2 furlongs for the first time in career start number 25, the classy Got Stormy (Get Stormy) needed every inch of the Keeneland stretch, but was shoved across the line by Tyler Gaffalione to win Friday’s GIII Buffalo Trace Franklin County S.

Got Stormy broke outward at the start, bothering Chalon (Dialed In) to her outside, and settled near the back of the field through the opening exchanges. Not rushed into the race and patiently handled while racing with cover on the turn, the chestnut was steered out to the grandstand side, but had the better part of a six-length deficit to overcome with time ticking away. But the 9-10 favorite sustained her rally into the final furlong and dropped her nose down just ahead of Into Mystic (Into Mischief), whom she defeated into third in their previous head-to-head battle in the GIII Ladies’ Sprint S. at Kentucky Downs Sept. 12. Got Stormy covered her final three-sixteenths of a mile in an other-worldly :16.75. She sprinted her final 110 yards in :5.69. Into Mystic sat a cozy trip inside, pulled out three wide at the entrance to the stretch and proved a luckless loser. Jakarta (Bustin Stones) made the running and settled for third.

Runner-up to Uni (GB) (More Than Ready) in last year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Mile, Got Stormy closed the season victoriously in the GI Matriarch S., but took some time to find form this year. Ridden a bit handier to the pace than she had been in 2019, Got Stormy just missed against males in the GI Kilroe Mile in March, but was no better than fourth in Belmont’s GIII Beaugay S. June 3 and in the GIII Poker S. July 4. She hinted at a return to her best with a hard-trying second to loose-on-the-lead Halladay (War Front) in defense of her title in the GI Fourstardave H. at Saratoga Aug. 22 before successfully dropping back to 6 1/2 furlongs over soft turf at Kentucky Downs last time.

Winning trainer Mark Casse indicated that Mother Nature could have a hand in which Breeders’ Cup race Got Stormy ends up in.

“[Owner] Gary [Barber] and I will talk about it and if the turf course were to be extremely firm, it would be a decision [between the Mile and the Turf Sprint]. It’s all going to depend on weather,” the conditioner said.

Pedigree Notes:

Got Stormy is one of two stakes performers for her dam, a half-sister to the Mt. Joy-bred MGSW/MGISP Smooth Air (Smooth Jazz) and to Grade II-winning juvenile Overdriven (Dixie Union). Third dam Twin Propeller was a reliable runner for Brian Burns’s operation in the Midwest, winning stakes events at the Fair Grounds and at Arlington Park while under the care of the late Gene Cilio. Got Stormy has a 2-year-old half-brother named Got Curly (Super Saver), a yearling half-brother by Mohaymen and a weanling half-brother by Bolt d’Oro. She was covered by Uncle Mo this past breeding season.

Friday, Keeneland
BUFFALO TRACE FRANKLIN COUNTY S.-GIII, $150,000, Keeneland, 10-9, 3yo/up, f/m, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.33, gd.
1–GOT STORMY, 124, m, 5, 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). O-Gary
Barber; B-Mt. Joy Stables, Pope, Marc & Pope McLean Jr. (KY);
T-Mark E. Casse; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $90,000. Lifetime Record:
MGISW, 25-10-5-3, $1,991,378. *1/2 to Sky Gold (Successful
Appeal), SP, $151,020. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Into Mystic, 120, f, 4, Into Mischief–Loveofalifetime, by
Medaglia d’Oro. ($650,000 2yo ’18 OBSAPR). O-Coleman,
George Chris and King, Brad; B-Runnymede Farm Inc. &
Catesby W. Clay Investment 2 LLC (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh.
$30,000.
3–Jakarta, 120, m, 5, Bustin Stones–T J’s Stormy Wit, by
Stormello. ($35,000 4yo ’19 EASDEC). O-Three Diamonds
Farm; B-Arrowwood Farm (PA); T-Michael J. Maker. $15,000.
Margins: NO, 1, 1. Odds: 0.90, 4.50, 6.30.
Also Ran: Change of Control, Winning Envelope, Surrender Now, Stillwater Cove, Ambassador Luna, Violent Times, Chalon. Scratched: Bohemian Bourbon, Tomlin. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree

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Oct. 10 Insights

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

WELL-BRED TRIO DEBUT AT BELMONT

3rd-BEL, $63K, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 7fT, 1:26p.m.

Michael Tabor’s THE GIRL HERSELF (American Pharoah) is one of three blue-blooded fillies making their career bow in this test. Out of Grade I winner Circle of Life (Belong to Me), the bay is a half to Grade I-winning sire Circular Quay (Thunder Gulch) and MGSP The Roundhouse (Fusaichi Pegasus). Juddmonte homebred Nubian (Pioneerof the Nile) also looks to open her account here. The bay is a daughter of European champion Special Duty (GB) (Hennessy). This is also the family of GI Breeders’ Cup mile victor Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) and MGISWs Sightseek (Distant View) and Tates Creek (Rahy). Klaravich Stables’ 325,000gns TATOCT purchase Counterparty Risk (Ire) (Australia {GB}) debuts here for Chad Brown. Her second dam is GSW Steel Princess (Ire) (Danehill), who produced GISW Sarah Lynx (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and GSW Sugar Boy (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}). TJCIS PPs

PLETCHER UNVEILS MILLION-DOLLAR BABY

6th-BEL, $63K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 3:03 p.m.

Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable and the Coolmore contingent teamed up at Keeneland September to acquire a $1-million son of Got Lucky (A.P. Indy) named OVERTOOK (Curlin) and he debuts here for that Grade I-winning mare’s conditioner Todd Pletcher. The colt hails from the family of Grade I winners Imagining (Giant’s Causeway), Super Saver (Maria’s Mon), Callback (Street Sense), Bluegrass Cat (Storm Cat) and Girolamo (A.P. Indy); as well as MGSW & GISP Daydreaming (A.P. Indy).

“He’s a well-made horse. He’s a good moving well-balanced kind of horse so he wasn’t hard to pick out,” Pletcher said. “He’s a colt that we’ve seen improve steadily all summer. Obviously, he’s bred to be a two-turn horse. Hopefully he finishes up well and builds off of this.”

Also making his first start here is Chiefswood Stables homebred Weyburn (Pioneerof the Nile). The Jimmy Jerkens trainee boasts a string of speedy worked, capped by a best-of-49 half-mile in :47 1/5 at Belmont Oct. 3. A half-brother to GSW Yorkton (Speightstown), he hails from the family of champion Sky Beauty (Blushing Groom {Fr}). TJCIS PPs

RISING STAR LOOKS TO REPEAT IN LEXINGTON

5th-KEE, $71K, Alw, 3yo/up, 6f, 3:18 p.m.

China Horse Club and WinStar may have another superstar on their hands in ‘TDN Rising Star’ NASHVILLE (Speightstown), who tries winners for the first time here. The $460,000 KEESEP purchase went wire-to-wire in his unveiling in the Saratoga slop, devastating the field by 11 1/2 lengths and earning a gaudy 91 Beyer Speed Figure. He enters off a pair of bullet drills, most recently covering three furlongs in :36 1/5 (1/4) at Keeneland Oct. 5. TJCIS PPs

MCGAUGHEY SADDLES EXPENSIVE TAPIT FIRSTER

7th-BEL, $63K, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 3:40 p.m.

Shug McGaughey sends out first time starter COLLISION COURSE (Tapit) for Courtlandt Farms. The $675,000 KEESEP buy is out of SW & MGSP Blue Violet (Curlin). Juddmonte Farm homebred Connagh’s Quay (Flintshire {GB}) debuts off back-to-back bullet works, most recently breezing a half-mile in :48 4/5 (1/16) over Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track Oct. 4. A half to stakes-place Boule (Exchange Rate) and Module (Harlan’s Holiday), the bay is out of an unraced daughter of MGISW Tates Creek (Rahy). This is also the family of MGISW Sightseek (Distant View), European champion Special Duty (GB) (Hennessy) and GI Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}). Mossarosa’s River Redemption (Pioneerof the Nile) also makes his initial trip to the post here. Out of SW Cuff (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the bay is from the family of G1SW Nayarra (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and GSW & MG1SPGustav Klimt (Ire (Galileo {Ire}). TJCIS PPs

WELL-RELATED FILLY MAKES CAREER BOW AT KEENELAND

6th-KEE, $70K, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16mT, 3:51 p.m.

Amerman homebred ZOOLOGY (Animal Kingdom) debuts for Brian Lynch in this test. The dark bay is a half-sister to Grade I-winning turfer Coffee Clique (Medaglia d’Oro), GSW Admission Office (Point of Entry) and MGSP Royal Fury (Langfuhr). Chad Brown saddles another intriguing firster in Red Light Racer (Medaglia d’Oro). The $525,000 KEESEP purchase is out of SW & MGISP Street Girl (Street Hero). TJCIS PPs

HALF TO DONNA VELOCE DEBUTS AT KEENELAND

7th-KEE, $70K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 4:24 p.m.

Bret calhoun unveils a half-sister to Grade III winner and MGISP ‘TDN Rising Star’ Donna Veloce (Uncle Mo) in PEACE BROKER (War Front). Their second dam is GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Cash Run (Seeking the Gold). Klaravich Stables went to $475,000 at KEESEP for Equal Pay (Quality Road) and she debuts here for Chad Brown. She is out of the unraced mare Street Rumor (Street Sense), who is a half to stakes-placed Valiancy (Tale of the Cat) and Havana Moon (Malibu Moon). TJCIS PPs

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McPeek, Gaffalione’s Agent Pointing Fingers Over Preakness Decision With Swiss Skydiver

Tyler Gaffalione rode top 3-year-old filly Swiss Skydiver to win the G1 Alabama and then to a second-place finish in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, and according to her trainer Ken McPeek, was scheduled to ride her in her next start, as well. This week, McPeek told the Thoroughbred Daily News that Gaffalione's agent, Matt Muzikar, had reneged on their agreement.

“I announced that we're going to run in the Preakness and Tyler was on board,” McPeek said on the podcast. “By maybe 6:00 that night, his agent tells us that he can't ride. And I'm like, 'Look, you've given us a two-race commitment [GI Kentucky Oaks and Preakness].' He said, 'Oh well, sorry, I've got to ride for Chad Brown at Keeneland.' I said, 'You can't do this. It's dishonorable.' I've been doing this for 35 years and I've never had something like that happen. I still find it dishonorable. Shame on Tyler Gaffalione and his agent.”

Muzikar responded Friday, telling TDN that McPeek had informed him, nine days prior, that Swiss Skydiver would be running in the Spinster Stakes at Keeneland, held on the day after this year's Preakness Stakes. Thus, Muzikar began booking Gaffalione mounts for Keeneland that weekend.

When McPeek announced that he planned to run the filly in the Preakness at Pimlico instead, seven days ahead of the race, Muzikar wasn't able to get out of his commitments at Keeneland on Saturday. McPeek wound up giving the Preakness call on Swiss Skydiver to Robby Albarado, who won the race.

“What did he expect us to do? Not take business for the Preakness card or at Keeneland and sit there and wait for Kenny McPeek because the world revolves around him?” Muzikar said. “Knocking me and the jockey, he crossed a line.

“Tyler had nothing to do with this whole situation, so I don't like him knocking the jockey. Tyler is the greatest kid and the greatest jock I have had in the 26 years I have been doing this. He did nothing to him.”

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

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