Miller, Rockingham Hit Exacta In Turf Sprint With Stormy Liberal, Richard’s Boy

DEL MAR, CA – Trainer Peter Miller and owner Rockingham Ranch hit the Breeders’ Cup exacta when Stormy Liberal beat out stablemate Richard’s Boy by a head in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

Off well from post 4 under jockey Joel Rosario, Stormy Liberal tucked inside and tracked the early pace in mid-pack while Pure Sensation led through initial fractions of :21.98 and :44.57. Off the far turn, Stormy Liberal swung out and rallied hard to beat Richard’s Boy to the line in a final time of :56.12 for the 5-furlong turf sprint.

“I broke out of the gate and I asked my horse a little bit,” Rosario said. “Peter told me just get your position, and he has a lot of speed, but he wanted me to just like follow and save some ground and just stay on the inside. And that worked out perfect.”

Disco Partner crossed in third, a 1/2 length past Bucchero. A pair of noses separated him from Pure Sensation in fifth and Marsha in sixth. Holding Gold, Washington DC, Cotai Glory, Lady Aurelia, Hogy, and Mongolian Saturday completed the order of finish. Guns Loaded and Paquita Coqueta were scratched as also-eligibles.

The win increased the career earnings for the 5-year-old son of Stormy Atlantic to $983,570 with a record of 22-8-6-1, including 6-5-0-0 in 2017. It was the first Breeders’ Cup victory for the locally-based Miller, who had an abnormally rough summer at a track where he won his first of four training titles in 2012.

“It was just a surreal experience,” Miller said. “I’m like, just one of you win, just one of you win. Somebody win, you know? To run one-two here for my first Breeders’ Cup and here at home is special.”

Stormy Liberal returned $62.40 to win, $26.60 to place, and $15.60 to show. Richard’s Boy brought back $13 to place and $7.40 to show, while Disco Partner paid $4.60 to show.

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