Overlooked Music's Storm Wins Bien Bien

Although victorious in his only previous start over Hollywood Park's turf course, Music's Storm attracted little attention before posting a 24-1 upset in Wednesday's $73,450 Bien Bien Stakes, the opening-day feature of the track's 35-day Autumn Meet.

Ridden by Kent Desormeaux in the one-mile grass event for 3-year-olds, Music's Storm won a stretch-long duel with favored Golden Arrow to prevail by a head while running the distance in 1:34 1/5.

The upset, along with an $85 stunner by Brigatine in the third race, generated a Pick Six carryover of $82,886 into Thursday's card.

Music's Storm, trained by Eduardo Inda for Aaron and Marie Jones, paid $50.80, $14.40 and $7.60. Golden Arrow, the 5-2 favorite with Victor Espinoza aboard, returned $4.60 and $3. It was 2 1/2 lengths farther back to third-place finisher Rushin' To Altar, who paid $4.80 to show under jockey Alex Solis.

"Eduardo was right," Desormeaux said. "All we have to do is find (Music's Storm) the right niche and we may have done that."

Thunder Bullet was a late scratch, reducing the number of starters to nine.

For Desormeaux, it was his second victory in the second running of the stakes race. It became notable in its 2001 inaugural when Mizzen Mast defeated Momentum. Both 3-year-olds became leaders in racing's handicap division during the following summer at the age of four.

While boosting his record to 3-1-0 in his tenth start, Music's Storm earned $44,070 to bring his career bankroll to $115,230. The Florida-bred son of Storm Creek was purchased at auction when a yearling for $335,000.