Filly Got Stormy has another race against males on her radar

Gary Barber and Southern Equine Stables' Got Stormy had her connections in positive spirits after the 4-year-old Get Stormy filly bested the boys to win Saratoga's Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap on Saturday.

The Mark Casse trainee, who won the Fasig-Tipton De La Rose on August 3 at Saratoga, stormed back a week later to set a course record at one mile on the inner turf, stopping the clock in 1:32 flat and automatically qualifying for the Breeders' Cup Mile.

With encouragement from Barber to race again off a quick turnaround, Got Stormy rewarded that faith by earning a career-best 108 Beyer Speed Figure. Her sire, Get Stormy, won the 2010 edition of the Fourstardave. 

"She came back good and was real happy this morning," said Jamie Begg, assistant to Casse. "I thought it was a big ask, but her numbers said it was good enough. That's the first time she's done it. There was every reason there to do it.

"People just don't do it. If you do it and goes badly, you look dumb. But when it works out, it's great."

After the win, Casse was quick to credit Barber for having faith in Got Stormy, who became the first filly in 35 runnings of the Fourstardave to earn a trip to the winner's circle. 

"Mark's not one to take credit. He said Gary was the one who made the decision," Begg said. "[Mark] conditions the horse and got her in a position to succeed, but he said, 'I'm not making that decision on my own.'"

Got Stormy is likely to make her next start against the boys once again in the Grade 1, $1 million Woodbine Mile on September 14. Casse won the Woodbine Mile in 2016 with Tepin, who went on to finish second in that year's Breeders' Cup Mile, and again in 2017 with World Approval, who bested a field of 14 to win the Breeders' Cup Mile.

Both Tepin and World Approval went on to win Eclipse Awards.