Bernsen Buys Full Interest in Champion Stormy Liberal

David A. Bernsen has bought out partner Rockingham Ranch's interest in champion turf male Stormy Liberal, who is being relocated to Florida from the California barn of long-time trainer Peter Miller.

Miller and Bernsen both released separate statements Dec. 10.

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

"'Stormy' is being relocated to Florida to a top farm where he will undergo a complete and detailed physical evaluation and then I will decide (if he will continue racing)," Bernsen said. "But whatever the decision, it will be based on the consultation and advice of the veterinarians, and when retired the goal is to have him sent to Old Friends, should they accept him."

Bernsen said he has also moved approximately 18 horses from Miller over the past several months.

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. Bernsen bought in after Stormy Liberal's 2017 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) victory at Del Mar.

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 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 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.

"As with any partnership, (David) 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. Peter wanted to retire him and I wanted to retire him, 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." 

Bernsen said Stormy Liberal had been closely monitored and re-evaluated following each of his starts during the 2018 racing season.  

"After every race since 2018 we discussed whether or not the horse should continue. When he needed time he has gotten time, when he needed a treatment he has gotten a treatment, at no time would this horse, or any horse I am involved in, ever run just for the sake of running a horse and no expense has ever been spared on him, or any other horse myself or Rockingham Ranch have been involved." 

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."