Get Stormy broke on top and never looked back, kicking away in the stretch to post a 2 3/4–length victory in the $300,000 Maker’s Mark Mile (gr. IT) (VIDEO) April 15 at Keeneland.
It was the first grade I victory for Get Stormy, who earned his first win in three starts this year. The 5-year-old son of Stormy Atlantic is owned by his breeder, Mary A. Sullivan’s Sullimar Stable, and trained by Tom Bush. Javier Castellano rode the bay horse to victory in a final time of 1:37.31 on a turf course labeled good.
Get Stormy outhustled Workin for Hops to the first turn and was allowed to get away with easy fractions in the field of eight. He posted splits of :24.61, :49.31, and 1:14.01 while maintaining a comfortable lead over Workin for Hops and Rosie Napravnik.
Workin for Hops gave his best shot in upper stretch, as did favored Court Vision and Zifzaf from the inside, and Society's Chairman on the outside, but they were no match for the winner.
Workin for Hops settled for second, a neck in front of Society’s Chairman, who was a head better than Court Vision in third. In the 2010 Maker’s Mark Mile, Court Vision ran second, while Society’s Chairman was third.
"He's a really nice horse," said Castellano, who won three races on the day. "Tom, he did a great job with the horse. He broke great out of the gate. I just went to the lead and enjoyed my trip. We had a lot of fun."
Get Stormy was a tiring eighth in his season debut, the Jan. 9 Ft. Lauderdale (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park. He returned to finish an improved third, beaten one length in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (gr. IT) on Feb. 5.
Prior to the Maker’s Mark Mile, Get Stormy’s biggest wins came last year in the Fourstardave and Bernard Baruch handicaps (both gr. IIT) at Saratoga. This was the fifth graded stakes win of his career. Overall, he improved to 9-2-2 from 21 starts and earnings of $795,961.
"He's been a real wonderful horse to have in the barn," Bush said. "We thought he could win a grade I, and we're thrilled to get it done today."
Get Stormy is out of the Kiri's Clown mare Foolish Gal.
The winner paid $10.20, $5, and $3.40. The exacta (5-4) returned $64.60 and the trifecta (5-4-6) was worth $245.60.