Champion Stormy Liberal Leaves Miller Barn

Rockingham Ranch and David A. Bernsen's Stormy Liberal will be leaving the barn of long-time trainer Peter Miller, according to a Dec. 10 release from Miller. 

"I am sorry to announce that Stormy Liberal will be leaving our barn to continue racing under another trainer," said Miller. "Stormy has been very special to our team, and to me. We will miss him and hope for the best." 

Stormy Liberal was plucked from the claiming ranks for $40,000 by Miller and Rockingham Ranch in October 2016. Since that time, the 7-year-old Stormy Atlantic  gelding has proved to be a model of consistency for his connections. With a 12-10-4 record from 37 starts, the talented sprinter has earned just over $2.2 million in purses.

Bred in Kentucky by Dapple Bloodstock and Gryphon Investments, Stormy Liberal is out of the Royal Academy mare Vassar. He earned the 2018 Eclipse Award as champion turf male after closing the year with four straight victories including a repeat score in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) at Churchill Downs. He is the first sprinter to earn an Eclipse Award in the male turf horse division. 

Gary Hartunian of Rockingham Ranch said the decision to move Stormy Liberal from Miller's barn was born of a disagreement regarding the horse's future in racing.

"I had a partner on the horse, David Bernsen, and he and Peter had a difference of opinion on the horse's career going forward," said Hartunian. "As with any partnership he had the option to buy me out, so I sold the horse to David. He will take him to Florida to David Scanlon and get him evaluated there."

Bernsen did not return requests for comment.

Winless in seven starts this season with Stormy Liberal, including an eighth-place finish in this years renewal of the Turf Sprint,

Hartunian said he felt that the 2018 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, in which Stormy Liberal narrowly edged multiple grade 1 winner World of Trouble  by a neck, had adversely affected the hard-knocking runner. 

"I felt that after the Breeders' Cup race with World of Trouble—and it was one of the most competitive races that I've ever seen in the stretch where two giants were just going at it—I think it took the life out of Stormy Liberal," Hartunian said. "I don't think he was the same horse after that. He beat a horse that went on to destroy everything in his way after that.

"Peter wanted to retire him and I wanted to retire, but I have full confidence that David will do the right thing by the horse. He is a great guy. It wasn't the storybook ending that I would like to have seen but it was about my partner wanting to get an evaluation of the horse other than what Peter had said. David will do the right thing by the horse." 

Miller expressed his overall disappointment with the decision in the release. The trainer stated that both he and his veterinarian were of the opinion that Stormy Liberal should be retired and that initial steps had been taken to send the horse to Old Friends. 

"It is very rare to claim a horse for $40,000, win two Breeders' Cup Races and earn the prestigious Eclipse Award," said Miller. "It is my professional opinion that he has given and accomplished enough. While the owners certainly have every right to make these choices, and I respect that, I would like the record to show that I was not in favor of this decision."

Stormy Liberal's stablemates, two-time Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Roy H and graded stakes-placed Wrecking Crew—also owned by Rockingham Ranch and Bernsen—will remain with Miller. Hartunian said 7-year-old Roy H, who has not raced since his win in the Jan. 19 Palos Verdes Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park, will return at 8 for a 2020 campaign. 

"Roy H will make a comeback. We're just giving him more time," said Hartunian. "We were trying to get him to the Breeders' Cup but we ran out of time. He had a little setback so Peter said we would give him another 90 days off."