Got Stormy becomes first filly to win Fourstardave

Got Stormy turned in a performance for the ages Saturday at Saratoga.

Back just seven days after winning the restricted De La Rose Stakes, Got Stormy proved plenty ready as she surged to the front inside the eighth pole and drew off to win the $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap (G1) in course-record time.

Got Stormy and jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. raced comfortably along the hedge in mid-pack well behind a sharp opening half-mile in :44.61 set by longshot Gidu. As Gidu motored through six furlongs in 1:08.36, Santana finally got to work on Got Stormy and the filly responded.

Got Stormy gained on the pacesetter through the stretch, finally collared Gidu just inside the eighth pole and opened up to the wire. Got Stormy completed the one-mile trip in 1:32, shattering the previous record of 1:33.13 set by Macagone earlier in the meet.

Raging Bull won a three-horse photo for second followed by Raging Bull, Uni and stablemate March to the Arch. Got Stormy paid $12.00 to win.

Following the race, winning trainer Mark Casse indicated he wasn't keen on wheeling back Got Stormy just seven days after winning the one-mile De La Rose in a time of 1:33.0. However, he was outranked.

“It was his idea,” said Casse from the winner's circle while motioning to owner Gary Barber. “I told him all the reasons why we shouldn't do it and he said 'let's do it.' And he's the boss.”

Got Stormy's only previous graded stakes win came in last year's Ontario Colleen Stakes (G3) at Woodbine. A 4-year-old daugher of Get Stormy, she has now won seven of 15 starts with earning of more than $700,000.

Casse heaped high praise on Got Stormy after the race, noting it was an allowance race at Gulfstream earlier this year that her potential was first revealed.

“What a super filly. Early in the year when she won at Gulfstream, I said 'she's our next Tepin,'” reflected Casse, referring to the 2015 Breeders' Cup Mile winner.

With the win, Got Stormy earned an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Mile. Barber, who co-owns Got Stormy with Southern Equine Stable, expects to be there.

“You can count on it,” Barber said from the winner's circle. “As long as she's good, she'll be there.”

Other horses to have already earned a spot in the Breeders' Cup Mile are Do It Again (SAF), Tamburo Di Oro, Bolo, Indy Champ, Lord Glitters (FR) and Too Darn Hot (GB).