Bay Storm Joins Millionaires Club in Ladies Turf Sprint

There were no Campanelles for Bay Storm  to face this year, but she still faced some serious turbulence down the stretch on her path to victory in the $1 million Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes (G2T) Sept. 9 at Kentucky Downs.

Narrowly clinging to her lead over Tony Ann  through early fractions, Bay Storm turned back that stubborn rival in the stretch drive and just outlasted the late rally of Wakakanka to clinch her first graded stakes win.

One of two stakes winners on the card for trainer Jonathan Thomas, who later took the Ladies Turf Stakes (G3T) with Regal Realm, Bay Storm entered the Ladies Turf Sprint off a determined score in the Kentucky Downs Preview Mint Ladies Stakes at Ellis Park. A heartbreaking runner-up in the 2022 edition of the 6 1/2 furlong Ladies Turf Sprint to multiple grade 1 victress Campanelle , Bay Storm flashed under the finish line on top by a mere head in this year's running.

“There were a couple of dodgy moments (in the stretch)," Thomas said. "Honestly, the filly on the outside (Wakanaka) bumping her a couple of times probably fired (Bay Storm) up. That probably helped us get to the wire the way we did, kind of made her dig down a little deeper. But that’s what we expect from her.”

Ridden by Florent Geroux, victorious earlier on the card above Regal Realm, the 5-year-old daughter of Kantharos   stopped the timer in 1:17.06 over a firm turf course.

Wakanaka got up for second by a head over Tony Ann after a belated closing kick.

Racing for the silks of Bridlewood Farm, Bay Storm's earnings climbed past the million-dollar mark with her Ladies Turf Sprint win and now stand at $1,313,315.

"She really deserves this," Thomas said. "She's got a crazy good resume. I think that's her (17th) lifetime start and she's only been off the board twice. It's a real credit to her, a graded-stakes winner. George Isaacs and the Bridlewood team have been really patient with her. It's kind of like a bow on a present."

Winning Sire

Kantharos stood the 2023 breeding season for $20,000 at Hill 'n' Dale Farms. Bay Storm became his first graded stakes winner this year.

Video: AGS Ladies Turf Sprint S. (G2T)

Vergara Wins Again at Kentucky Downs in Ladies Marathon

One year after capturing the Dueling Grounds Oaks, Vergara  returned to the Kentucky Downs winner's circle Sept. 9 with a plucky score in the $1 million Ladies Marathon Stakes (G3T) to land her first graded stakes win.

Owned by Gary Broad of Walmac Farm, who purchased the Noble Mission  filly for $130,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Vergara had been winless since her 2022 Kentucky Downs victory. However, the 4-year-old had been beginning to blossom in her training during the second half of her 2023 campaign, and her connections decided it was worth a shot in the Ladies Marathon.

“Everyone has been saying she has been training great since she ran at Saratoga (5th in the Glens Falls Stakes (G3T) Aug. 3)," said Alice Clapham, a longtime assistant to trainer Graham Motion. "They were all saying she was doing really good and they proved to be right."

A stalking second under Joel Rosario, Vergara pounced on the leader turning for home and held sway in the lane. She prevailed by three-quarters of a length over Transient  with Sinifiltre in third. Vergara completed 1 5/16 miles in 2:10.96 on firm turf.

"Joel (Rosario) said she was a little keen because they slowed it down quite a bit. He said she just loves it around here," Clapham said. "She won here last year. When they slowed it down again, he said he was just going to go for home and she did all the rest on her own. When they like this course they come back and just bounce around here again. She loves going up and down the hills."

Video: Aristocrat Ladies Marathon S. (G3T)

Regal Realm Wires Field in Ladies Turf

Breaking on top in the field of seven older fillies and mares, Augustin Stables' homebred Regal Realm  sailed to the lead and never looked back on her way to a 1 1/4-length tally in the $1 million Ladies Turf Stakes (G3T).

"She broke super fast and made the lead very easily," said jockey Florent Geroux of Regal Realm. "We just wanted to see how she broke. We thought she might be forward because of a lack of speed in the race. When she jumped very well I just took control of the race."

Regal Realm, a 4-year-old daughter of Animal Kingdom, notched her first graded win in the Ladies Turf after collecting her first black-type tally earlier this year in the Lady Canterbury Stakes at Canterbury Park.

The official time of the one-mile Ladies Turf was not listed due to the starting gate having been misplaced, according to Kentucky Downs officials.

Sparkle Blue  and White Frost  completed the trifecta. Favored New Year's Eve , the trailer throughout, never threatened, and finished last.

"We were looking forward to getting (Regal Realm) here," said trainer Jonathan Thomas. "I thought (Florent Geroux) did a great job of getting her to the lead comfortably. Took to the track very well. We’re just thrilled."

Video: Castle Hill Gaming Ladies Turf S. (G3T)