By Jack Shinar
Get Stormy disproved the notion that he was a "need the lead" type when he ran down pacesetter Major Marvel in the lane on his way to victory in the $125,000 Bryan Station Stakes (gr. IIIT) (VIDEO) over a yielding Keeneland course Oct. 18.
With Javier Castellano aboard, Get Stormy won his third consecutive start for trainer Thomas Bush and owner Sullimar Stables -- all of them coming in one-mile turf races. The Mary A. Sullivan-bred son of Stormy Atlantic earned his first graded stakes triumph in the Bryan Station, handily defeating seven rival 3-year-olds.
Get Stormy won his last two prior starts, including Saratoga's Lure Stakes Aug. 29, in front-running style. But in the Bryan Station, Major Marvel, breaking to the inside of Get Stormy, was determined to get the lead. Major Marvel then took the field along through quarter-mile fractions of :23.88, :48.16, and 1:12.88 with Get Stormy pressing in second.
Challenging on the outside as they straightened away, Get Stormy reeled in the pacesetter approaching mid-stretch under right-handed urging from Castellano and opened a clear advantage in deep stretch.
The bay colt won in a drive to the wire by 1 1/2 lengths over the rallying Rescue Squad, guided by Edgar Prado. Kinsella, the 2-1 pick ridden by Kent Desormeaux (subbing for the injured Robby Albarado), edged Major Marvel by a neck for the show spot while finishing 2 1/2 lengths behind the winner. The final time was 1:37.49.
The Kentucky-bred Get Stormy, who is out of the Kiri's Clown mare Foolish Gal, improved his career mark to 4-2-1 in 11 starts with earnings of $207,559. He is now two-for-two in stakes competition with Castellano aboard each time.
“I handicapped this race; there was a little speed in the race,” said Castellano after his third win of the day. “I just left him close to the pace and he responded very well today.”
Sent off as the fourth choice, Get Stormy paid $13, $5.60, and $3.40 and topped a $79 exacta. Rescue Squad closed from seventh to gain the place and returned $5.40 and $3.80. Kinsella, trained by Todd Pletcher and making his stakes debut, was $3.40 to show.
Major Marvel was followed by Mikoshi, Strike Again, El Crespo, and Cedros.
Copyright © 2009 Blood-Horse Publications. All rights reserved internationally.
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