Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid al Maktoum's Storming Home is undefeated in his two U.S. races, including a victory last time out in the Charles Whittingham Handicap (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park. Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale thinks his horse can do better in Saturday's Arlington Million than what he showed in that three-quarter-length win at 1-5 odds. "His Whittingham performance was not as good as his effort in the Jim Murray Handicap," Drysdale said. "I was not pleased with how he came up to the Whittingham, and it was also a very roughly run race. He is coming up to the Million better than he did the Whittingham." Drysdale describes Storming Home as a playful horse who hasn't been bothered by the humidity that has settled into the Chicago area of late. He's also not the type of horse you want to mess with too much during a race. "Where the bear wants to sit, we let him sit," said Drysdale, who also indicated that Storming Home will again wear four leg bandages in the Million. "He always runs and trains in fours," said Drysdale. Past performance charts indicated that Storming Home did not wear front bandages in the May 10 Jim Murray Handicap, but Drysdale says he definitely had them on for that race, in which Storming defeated the top stakes horse Denon by two lengths. "You can't believe everything you read," said Drysdale with a smile. One thing that is causing a bit of apprehension on Drysdale's part is the yielding ground at Arlington. Does Drysdale think Storming Home is at the top of the male turf division right now?
"It's the early days still," he said with guarded optimism. "There are a lot of major races now and in the fall that will decide all that." Should all go well for Storming Home in the Million and thereafter, Drysdale indicated his main goal for the son of Machiavellian is the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Oct. 25.
