Champion Stormy Liberal Retired to Old Friends

David Bernsen's Stormy Liberal has been retired and will take up residency at Old Friends in Georgetown, Ky., it was announced Dec. 18.

Ahead of any 2020 racing plans, Bernsen, who bought out partner Rockingham Ranch's interest in the champion turf runner this month, sent the two-time Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) winner to David Scanlon in Ocala, Fla., to undergo a full medical workup, where it was determined the best course of action would be to retire the 7-year-old Stormy Atlantic  gelding.

"After completing an extensive medical evaluation of Stormy Liberal that was overseen by David Scanlon of Ocala, Fla., I am announcing that the two-time Breeders' Cup winner and reigning North American older turf champion has been retired and will be relocated to Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement facility in Georgetown, Ky.," Bernsen said in a statement Wednesday. "I feel it is important for the industry and the welfare of all racehorses to provide some transparency as to the process involved."

Winless in seven starts this season, Stormy Liberal made his final appearance on the track in the Nov. 2 Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Park, where he finished off the board. Following the World Championships, Bernsen—who originally bought in after Stormy Liberal's 2017 Turf Sprint victory at Del Mar—approached his former partner about acquiring full ownership of the horse.

In a Dec. 10 statement, Bernsen said Stormy Liberal would be shipped from his longtime base in California in order to have "a complete and detailed physical evaluation," the result of which would ultimately determine the fate of his future in racing. 

"In discussion with Mr. Scanlon, we agreed on a two-stage process," Bernsen said Wednesday. "First, an extensive racing soundness exam that included X-rays, scans, and bloodwork, followed by a more extensive procedure known as a 'nuke scan.'"

DAUGHERTY: Bernsen Buys Full Interest in Champion Stormy Liberal

According to Bernsen, irregularities were discovered during the course of Stormy Liberal's initial evaluation that prompted more extensive measures to be taken. 

"After 'Stormy' passed the initial test, we then conducted the 'nuke scan' of his entire body to make sure nothing was missed," Bernsen said. "This was conducted this past Monday, and Mr. Scanlon and the primary veterinarian saw an irregularity that did not show up on X-rays or in the initial exam, and they decided to go one step further with an MRI on both ankles."

Stormy liberal was found to have "full thickness cartilage defects on the palmar (back) aspect of the medial condyles in both front fetlocks." The lesions were determined to be a potential threat to the gelding's soundness, and a period of six to eight months' rest from training was suggested. 

"Based on the above results, Stormy Liberal has been immediately retired and will spend the next month in Florida before being transferred to Old Friends on an agreement I had previously reached with Mr. Michael Blowen of Old Friends," Bernsen said. 

Bred in Kentucky by Dapple Bloodstock and Gryphon Investments, Stormy Liberal is out of the Royal Academy mare Vassar and is a full brother to grade 1-placed Coast Guard and a half brother to grade 3 winner Leinster. He was claimed by trainer Peter Miller and Rockingham Ranch for $40,000 in October 2016. 

Stormy Liberal earned the Eclipse Award in 2018 after closing the year with four consecutive victories, including a repeat score in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, this time at Churchill Downs. He was retired with a 12-10-4 record from 37 starts and earnings of $2,212,580.

"I would like to also personally thank David Scanlon and the medical team involved for uncovering a previously undiagnosed condition and their help through this process," Bernsen said. "Myself and Gary Hartunian of Rockingham Ranch are immensely grateful to have been able to race such a magnificent horse and hope his retirement to Old Friends will benefit all retired horses."