Stormy Liberal Springs Upset in Turf Sprint

Home-court advantage can be a powerful thing when championships are on the line. In the Nov. 4 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T), it helped push a couple of hometown boys right over the top.

Trainer Peter Miller and owner Rockingham Ranch celebrated their first Breeders' Cup victories in storybook fashion Saturday, when 30-1 longshot Stormy Liberal led a 1-2 sweep for his connections, getting his head over stablemate Richard's Boy in the $1 million Turf Sprint as heavily favored Lady Aurelia finished 10th. 

The double-trouble geldings may have produced a stunning result for the Del Mar crowd, but their efforts were fitting given Miller's local ties. The veteran conditioner lives about 10 minutes from the seaside venue and the fact his charges could run out of their own stalls was a big catalyst behind the decision to give the pair a chance in the five-furlong test. 

"I thought we had home-court advantage and they ran to that," Miller said. "I couldn't be prouder of these horses. They're just two gutsy, tough, hard-knocking horses.

"I'm just elated to win a Breeders' Cup at home."

Their prior experience over the Del Mar course proved key Saturday. As Pure Sensation ripped through opening fractions of :21.98 and :44.57 for a half-mile up front, Richard's Boy stalked from the two-path in second, with Stormy Liberal saving ground in sixth along the rail. 

It had been nearly five months since Stormy Liberal tested his competitive edge as the 5-year-old Stormy Atlantic  gelding hadn't run since finishing eighth to Disco Partner in the June 10 Jaipur Invitational Stakes (G3T) at Belmont Park. As Richard's Boy took aim at Pure Sensation coming into the stretch, Stormy Liberal's freshened legs went to work, tipping out off the rail under Joel Rosario and running by a weakening Lady Aurelia to his outside en route to getting the nod over his barn mate at the wire.

"I had a lot of faith in these horses—both these horses," Miller said. "They show up every time. To run in a Breeders' Cup race against Lady Aurelia and some super good sprinters, I felt we needed the home-court advantage—which I think we had. I had two jockeys (Rosario and Flavien Prat) who know the course and two horses that know the course and it turned out to work in our favor.

"Stormy Liberal ... he (hadn't been) running in four months, five months. But he's such a hard-knocking horse and he was training well. I thought he deserved a chance."

Stormy Liberal covered the five furlongs in :56.12 over a course rated firm and paid $62.40, $26.60, and $15.60 across the board. Disco Partner rallied late for third with Bucchero and Pure Sensation rounding out the top five. 

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez said multiple group 1 winner and 4-5 favorite Lady Aurelia got her trip, but simply didn't have a response when needed.

"I had a perfect trip. There were a couple of speed horses so I let them go," Velazquez said. "She was just flat down the lane."

Prior to his Jaipur run, Stormy Liberal had been a model of consistency for Miller and Rockingham Ranch since being claimed for $40,000 off trainer Doug O'Neill in October of 2016. He opened his 2017 campaign with four straight victories, including a win in the May 27 Daytona Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park.

"I claimed Stormy Liberal for $40,000. So those people right now are probably jumping off the Coronado Bridge," said Gary Hartunian of Rockingham Ranch, who added he purchased Richard's Boy privately.

Bred by Dapple Bloodstock and Gryphon Investments in Kentucky, Stormy Liberal improved his record to eight wins from 22 starts with $983,570 in earnings.

"Like I said, it's just a dream come true," Miller said.