Stormy Liberal in for HK Sprint, Richard's Boy Possible

Immediately after standout races by three of their sprinters during the Breeders' Cup, Rockingham Ranch and trainer Peter Miller considered each for a run in the prestigious Dec. 10 Hong Kong Sprint (G1) at Sha Tin.

Plans have changed, however, and each horse now has a different status for the 1,200-meter turf dash.

Stormy Liberal, the winner of the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T), has punched his ticket to the Hong Kong Sprint and has been accepted by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Rockingham initially considered TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Roy H for the race in Hong Kong, but plans were altered soon after the World Championships.

"About three days (after the Breeders' Cup, Miller) decided that Roy H needed some time off," said Rockingham racing manager Brian Trump. "Since Stormy Liberal had just come off a five-month freshening, he felt that he was a better fit for the trip."

But if things play out the way Rockingham owner Gary Hartunian hopes, two sets of his bright blue silks will hit the Sha Tin turf course in December. Rockingham is still attempting to get Richard's Boy—who finished just a head behind Stormy Liberal in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint—into the Hong Kong Sprint.

"Our plan was to give him 30-60 days off like Roy, but he has been jumping out of his skin at the barn," Trump said of Richard's Boy.

"(There's) something about this horse that just likes to run. So we have asked for an invite and the Hong Kong Jockey Club is waiting on the results of their trial race this weekend to see if Richard will get an invite."

Trump and Miller watched Stormy Liberal log a special clockwise half-mile breeze (:49 1/5) at Miller's San Luis Rey Training Center base Nov. 16. The management at the Bonsall, Calif., training center closed the track for all other horses so the Stormy Atlantic  gelding could prepare for the right-handed Hong Kong Sprint without any incident.

"(He) follows instructions extremely well—switched leads right on time," Trump said. "(He's a) very smart horse."

A $40,000 claim by Miller and Rockingham in October of 2016, Stormy Liberal has won five of his eight starts since. All five of those victories were in stakes sprinting on turf in Southern California, and he now has $983,570 in earnings to go along with an 8-6-1 record from 22 lifetime starts.