Got Stormy Aims to Repeat in Fourstardave

Gary Barber's Got Stormy, still searching for her first win of 2020, is aiming to get back on track where she recorded her first grade 1 victory last year—in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course.

The 5-year-old mare breezed July 22 at Saratoga, clocking a half-mile in :48.32 on the main track. The workout was her first since she ran fourth in the one-mile Poker Stakes (G3T) July 4 at Belmont Park.

"She's doing well. She's good and we're still aiming for the Fourstardave," trainer Mark Casse said. 

The $400,000 race Aug. 22 is an open race not restricted to females. A "Win and You're In" Challenge Race, it offers an expense-paid berth into the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) at Keeneland Nov. 7.

Got Stormy was second to Uni in the Breeders' Cup Mile last year after beating her in the Fourstardave. Got Stormy also won the Matriarch Stakes (G1T) at Del Mar last year.

Wise Dan in 2012-13 was the last repeat winner of the Fourstardave, named after the horse who won the 1990 and 1991 editions of what was then called the Daryl's Joy Stakes (G3T).

"That would be wonderful," Casse said of a possible repeat. "We're just hoping and looking forward to getting a firm turf."

Though all of Got Stormy's starts this year have officially come on such turf, some of those races, such as the Poker, came on courses that had recent rainfall and might have been softer than the harder ground she prefers.

Got Stormy is a daughter of Get Stormy , the 2010 Fourstardave winner. She is the first filly to win the prestigious race.

Although winless this year, she came close at the highest level when second, beaten a neck by River Boyne, in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1T) in March at Santa Anita Park.

Also back working at Saratoga for Casse was Live Oak Plantation's Tap It to Win, who was fifth last out in the June 20 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) after setting the pace. He covered five furlongs July 20 in 1:00.72 on the main track in preparation for the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1) Aug. 1.

A 3-year-old ridgling by Tapit , he was a maiden winner at Saratoga last year. He has won twice this year, doing so at Gulfstream Park and Belmont Park before his defeat in the Belmont Stakes.

"We're excited to get him out there," Casse said. "His one race at Saratoga, sprinting, was extremely good, so we're hoping that will make him tough."

Tracy Farmer's Sir Winston, the 2019 Belmont winner who ran sixth in the Suburban Stakes (G2) at Belmont July 4, is pointing toward the $85,000 Alydar Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 9, Casse said, and another Farmer-owned runner, Perfect Alibi, is headed for the Longines Test Stakes (G1) Aug. 8.

Also breezing this week at Saratoga was graded stakes winner Point of Honor, whom trainer George Weaver confirmed is pointed for the $500,000 Personal Ensign Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) Aug. 1, a race also on champion Midnight Bisou's itinerary. 

Second in the one-turn Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) June 13 at Belmont Park, Point of Honor went five furlongs in 1:03.42 on the Oklahoma training track July 21. The 4-year-old Curlin  filly won the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) last year for owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Stetson Racing.

"I think she's better at two turns, and we always have thought that," Weaver said. "She still ran huge last time, and she'll get another chance to redeem herself in the Personal Ensign."

The 4-year-old male star of Weaver's stable, dual grade 1 winner Vekoma, has yet to work at Saratoga after winning the Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park July 4 for owners R. A. Hill Stable and Gatsas Stables. The 4-year-old son of Candy Ride  is pointed for the $300,000 Forego Stakes Presented by America's Best Racing (G1) Aug. 29.

"We'll probably start working the first part of August," Weaver said. "He's been galloping, doing well, and I'm just letting him get back up underneath himself."