Stormy Lucy, sold privately since her recent win in the Santa Ana Stakes (gr. IIT), returns to action for her new connections in the $150,000 Santa Barbara Handicap (gr. IIIT) April 13 on the Santa Anita Park turf.
The 5-year-old Stormy Atlantic mare now races for Steve Moger, who purchased her from Erica Gaunt, the widow of Frank Gaunt, following the March 16 Santa Ana. She is now trained by Ed Moger, the brother of the new owner, after previously being part of the Frank Lucarelli barn.
The bay mare snapped a nine-race losing streak in graded stakes races when she found a seam at the rail past mid-stretch and snuck through for a 1 1/2-length victory in the 1 1/8-mile Santa Ana. She'll now be asked to go a furlong longer in the 1 1/4-mile Santa Barbara, which was demoted to a grade III event this year after being contested as a grade II since 1996.
The Santa Barbara, which attracted eight older fillies and mares, is race 4 on the Sunday program at Santa Anita with a 2 p.m. PDT scheduled post. It is joined on the card by another grade III turf event, the San Simeon Stakes for older horses at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside course, which is race 8.
Stormy Lucy, out of the Dixieland Band mare Here Comes Lucinda, won the 2012 Golden Poppy Stakes at Golden Gate Fields. She also has placed in three graded stakes including the Robert J. Frankel (gr. IIIT) Dec. 29 at Santa Anita, which she lost by a nose to Santa Barbara rival Customer Base. Rafael Bejarano, who rode Stormy Lucy for the first time in the Santa Ana, is back aboard the 120-pound highlight from gate 3.
Customer Base, a Glen Hill Farm mare trained by Tom Proctor, has had just one start since the Frankel, never engaging while trailing most of the way in the one-mile Buena Vista Stakes (gr. IIT) Feb. 17. She returned to the worktab March 14 at Santa Anita and has had five timed drills leading up to the Santa Barbara. The 5-year-old daughter of Lemon Drop Kid won her only prior start at 10 furlongs, taking the Lucie Manet Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park last July. Mike Smith takes the return call from post 7.
The Argentinian mare Miss Serendipity looks to improve on her third-place finish in the Santa Ana with her fourth start for Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally since transferring for owner Matias Cavalieri. Winless so far in the U.S., the 6-year-old daughter of Not For Sale was a group I winner in her native country and will have Brice Blanc back aboard.
Also coming out of the Santa Ana are sixth-place Topic for Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale, and Floral Romance, who was a tiring seventh after stalking the pace. Topic, a 4-year-old Discreet Cat filly, was third in last summer's American Oaks (gr. IT) on the Hollywood turf. Floral Romance's Hall of Fame trainer, Jerry Hollendorfer, won the Santa Barbara in 2012 with Capital Plan and in 2010 with Tuscan Evening.
Abbondanza Racing's Changethechannel, a winner in her only try at 10 furlongs for trainer Sean McCarthy, should set the pace in her first graded stakes appearance since December 2012. Completing the field are Champagneandcaviar and Phonybooksnrecords.
$150,000 Santa Barbara Stakes (gr. IIIt, Race 4, 2 p.m.), Fillies & Mares 4 & Up, 1 1/4 MIles (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Phonybooksnrecords (KY), D Van Dyke, 113, E R Reed
2. Miss Serendipity (ARG), B Blanc, 119, R L McAnally
3. Stormy Lucy (KY), R Bejarano, 120, E Moger Jr.
4. Champagneandcaviar (KY), J Talamo, 114, G Mandella
5. Floral Romance (KY), A Delgadillo, 115, J Hollendorfer
6. Changethechannel (KY), T Baze, 113, S McCarthy
7. Customer Base (KY), M E Smith, 119, T F Proctor
8. Topic (KY), C S Nakatani, 116, N D Drysdale
Stormy Lucy
Benoit Photo