It
took all of one race for Stormin Bolt to recoup his purchase price for
owner Cam Allard, and what a race it was, as the 3-year-old son of Roaring
Fever powered through the stretch to register a seven-length victory at
Aqueduct Racetrack in his first start.
With
his scintillating debut, Stormin Bolt becomes the first New York-bred to crack
the New York Watch list, located online at http://www.nyra.com/nywatch,
the series that profiles up-and-comers that have recently broken their maiden
in races at Aqueduct, Belmont
Park,
and Saratoga.
Trained
by Kiaran McLaughlin and ridden by Richard Migliore, Stormin Bolt was sent off
as the 8-1 fifth choice in the eighth race on Saturday, March 6 at Aqueduct, a
$48,000 maiden special weight for New York-bred 3-year-olds going six furlongs
on the dirt that drew 11 competitors.
When
the gates opened, Stormin Bolt broke sharply from post number two and settled
in second place, tracking the pace set by 9-5 second choice Major Star. As they
entered the stretch, Migliore shook the reins, and his charge quickly burst
clear to open up daylight between him and the field. He increased his lead to
the wire, winning under wraps in 1:11.48.
Migliore
was thrilled not only with his athleticism, but also his intelligence.
“He
acted very well in the post parade and the starting gate, and seems to have
that important balance of ability and intelligence,” he said. “He does all of
the little things that make a good horse, including listening and reacting to
the rider’s cues. Because of that, I don’t think he will have any trouble
eventually stretching out.”
Purchased
for $7,500 in August 2008 at the Fasig-Tipton New York, Inc. Saratoga
Open Yearlings sale, Stormin Bolt earned $28,800 in his debut victory alone.
His sire, Roaring Fever, broke his maiden at first asking as a 2-year-old in a
2002 maiden special weight at Saratoga, and went on to win four of 19 starts
including a win in the 2004 Alysheba Stakes at the Meadowlands Racetrack, run
at 1 1/16-miles on the dirt. Roaring Fever also ran second in the Grade 3
Cowdin at Belmont
Park
in 2002, a 2-year-old dirt sprint.
Stormin
Bolt’s dam, Emily Ha Ha, was an unraced daughter of Bright Launch. To find
stakes winners in Stormin Bolt’s female family, you have to go back to his
third dam, Hilarious
Square, who produced
stakes winners Pro Flight and Jon Dark.
“He
came in here last March or April as a young two-year-old and he’s great to work
around, he’s just been slow to mature,” said Artie Magnuson, assistant to
McLaughlin. “Cam Allard has been very patient with him. We’re very excited
about his potential also. We’re not going to jump to any conclusions yet; we’ll
go to the next condition. Maybe in a few weeks we can find a straight
3-year-old race and we’ll just take it one step at a time.”
Many
of the industry’s brightest stars embarked upon their careers at the NYRA
tracks, including a number of recent Triple Crown race winners. Big Brown,
Jazil, Birdstone, Funny Cide, and Empire Maker are all among the Derby, Preakness, and
Belmont Stakes victors that kick-started their careers at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, or Saratoga.
The
list also includes a brilliant triumvirate of fillies that broke their maidens
at Aqueduct. Flashing, Little Belle, and Music Note all registered their first
victories at the Big A before going on to win major Grade 1 races within the
last two years.
Visit
the official New
York Watch website,
located online at http://www.nyra.com/nywatch,
to can see all of the horses that have been spotlighted and watch their
breakout races.