Sullimar Stable’s Get Stormy
is set for his attempt to land a second victory in the Grade 2 Fourstardave
Handicap after breezing five furlongs on the Oklahoma turf course in 59.86 seconds on
Wednesday.
The move, which came with Eddie Castro aboard, was the quickest of 15
at the distance.
“The jock did a great job and finished up good and galloped out
good, and I couldn’t have asked for anything more,” said trainer
Tom Bush. “It was exactly what we were looking for. We’re ready to
go. He won’t do anything else before the race besides gallop.”
The Fourstardave, which had its pursed raised to $500,000 this year,
will be contested August 11.
Get Stormy, a three-time Grade 1 winner, will enter the one-mile turf
race off a second in the Grade 2 Monmouth Stakes on June 10. In the Monmouth,
Get Stormy rated behind Presious Passion and Get Serious early, took the on the
far turn and was passed in the stretch by Data
Link, who prevailed by one length. Data Link is also probable for
the Fourstardave.
“The race would have been a lot closer, but Get Serious saw
Castro move up [aboard Get Stormy] at the half-mile pole just to be in a better
spot,” said Bush. “When Pablo Fragoso [on Get Serious] saw Castro
move Get Stormy up, Get Serious came flying up beside Get Stormy and shot to
the lead. And Eddie was screaming at him, ‘Where are you going? Where are
you going?’ He was just holding his spot, and they moved way too soon in
the race. And that’s how come he got caught. He couldn’t let Get
Serious go on once that happened. But Get Stormy ran good that day. He really
did.”
In three other starts this year, Get Stormy won the Grade 1 Gulfstream
Park Turf Handicap in February, was fourth in the Grade 1 Makers 46 Mile at
Keeneland in April, and ninth in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic in
May at Churchill. Get Stormy won both the Makers Mark Mile and Woodford Reserve
Turf Classic in 2010.
Get Stormy, now 6, won the Fourstardave in 2010 but missed the race
last year with a minor tendon issue.
In addition to Get Stormy and Data Link, the Fourstardave is expected
to draw Grade 2 Firecracker winner Guys
Reward, Grade 3 Poker winner Clear
Attempt, and Grade 3 Jaipur winner Upgrade.
Corporate Jungle, Right One, Salto, and Wise Dan
are also probable, with El Commodore
questionable.