Storm In May

Unlikely Story in the Shadow of the Final Derby Prep Races As Curlin accelerated to the finish in Arkansas and Dominican placed himself on the top ten list for the Kentucky Derby (G1), two other closely related game performers seemingly went unnoticed. Both of these contenders finished with heart to ensure that their names would not miss the post position draw on the first Saturday in May. It is common knowledge that almost every week a new name emerges, as the various hopefuls jockey for position, on the priceless list that places the 3 year olds in contention for racing’s highest honor. Today, the illusive story involves a mare that has imparted a fair deal of excitement to this year’s Triple Crown Trail. Shawnee Creek, the dam of Storm Creek, who was a leading first crop sire in 2000, is making a name for herself again. This time she does so by taking position as the grand-dam of not only one, but two, of the colts’ expected to vie for the first illusive jewel in the Triple Crown. Zanjero, out of the multiple stakes producing daughter of Shawnee Creek, Checkered Flag, held for third in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) by fighting hard in the stretch to increase his graded earnings to $205,000. Not to be outclassed, Storm in May, out of Laun Shaw, also a daughter of Shawnee Creek held on for second after a sustained drive in the Arkansas Derby (G2). The additional $200,000 gained by this finish catapulted the competitive Florida bred into a secure position with a total of $227,500 in graded earnings. Stranger things have happened, but the careful examination of the performances of these two “cousins” reveals that each has finished at an above average in the money rate. With Storm in May breaking from the gates 13 times and Zanjero posting 8 starts, neither horse has finished off the board more than once. Worth bragging about, even in the claiming ranks, but Storm in May and Zanjero accomplished this feat in stakes company for 12 of the 21 races, 8 of which were graded. The Sunshine Millions Dash winner, Storm in May, again demonstrated his versatility by making the switch back to the dirt in Arkansas after his front running third place finish in the Palm Beach Stakes (G3). Shawnee Creek, the stakes winning daughter of Mr. Prospector, is sure to be a common thread on pedigrees of high performers in the years to come. The broodmare’s list of black type progeny already includes popular names, such as Amadeus Wolf and Victory Lap. Time and the pace will tell what the future holds for this extraordinary bloodline. For certain, the connections of these two big-hearted colts are strategizing for a successful bid in the stretch run at Louisville on the 5th of May, 2007. Article courtesy of Kent D. Hersman, owner of Flying H Enterprises. All rights reserved; reprint by permission only. Correspondence should be forwarded to flyahawk@hotmail.com It should be noted that since this article was written in April 2007, Zanjero won the West Virginia Derby (G3) and Storm in May suffered a bruised hoof after setting the pace in the Hill Prince Stakes (G3).