Got Stormy All Class in Ladies Sprint

FRANKLIN, KY – Gary Barber’s multiple Grade 1 winner Got Stormy was all class as she dominated Saturday’s $500,000 Real Solution Ladies Sprint Stakes (G3) at Kentucky Downs.

Got Stormy was made the 9/5 favorite by the time she broke from post 8 under Tyler Gaffalione, who put his steed into a close early stalking position.

Surrender Now led narrowly over Bohemian Bourbon and Into Mystic through opening fractions of :22.54 and :46.27.

Gaffalione waited until almost midway home in the stretch before encouraging Got Stormy to challenge for the lead, which she eagerly took and held through to the wire while drawing off.

The Mark Casse trainee crossed 3 1/4 lengths ahead in a final time of 1:15.41 for the 6 1/2-furlong soft turf sprint.

“The filly broke great today,” Gaffalione said. “We were worried about the soft ground, but she handled it beautifully. She felt like a winner every step, and when I got her out, she finished the job. She’s got so much class and is a tremendous filly. Great job by Mark and his team having her ready.”

Winning Envelope rallied strongly from last but came up short, ultimately settling for second by a 1/2-length over Into Mystic. Lady Lawyer drew in as an Also Eligible and also came charging from well off the pace, taking fourth.

Surrender Now, Quebec, Change of Control, Dixieincandyland, and Mentality all crossed within a length of each other for positions fifth through ninth, respectively.

Bohemian Bourbon, Cariba, and I’llhandalthecash completed the order of finish.

Intuicao, Jakarta, and Kimari were scratched.

Got Stormy’s win was her first of 2020 and improved her overall record to 24-9-5-3 with $1,901,378 earned. After a career spent exclusively routing up until now, Casse said that the 5-year-old Get Stormy mare will likely aim for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) as her year-end goal; she was second in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).

“She’s hard not to love,” Casse added. “I’ve felt bad for her this year because she’s gotten some bad ‘rap,’ that she isn’t what she was, and it’s not true. When she won the Fourstardave (G1) last year, the track was so hard and so fast, and she just hasn’t gotten that. That’s what she likes. The softer it is, the shorter she needs to run.”

Got Stormy returned $5.80 to win, $3.60 to place, and $3 to show. Winning Envelope brought back $10.20 to place and $5.20 to show, while Into Mystic paid $5 to show.