World of Trouble, Stormy Liberal rematch set on Gulfstream turf

Three turf sprint stakes are part of a 12-race program Saturday at Gulfstream Park that features nine stakes, six graded, worth $17.125 million in purses. The $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and the $7 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1), the richest races on either surface in North America, are the headline events.

The Peter Miller-trained Stormy Liberal, the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) for the second consecutive year, is among four Breeders’ Cup winners entered Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The Southern California-based Stormy Liberal will headline the $150,0000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint and joins Classic winner Accelerate (Pegasus World Cup), Dirt Mile winner City of Light (Pegasus World Cup); and Filly & Mare Sprint winner Shamrock Rose (Hurricane Bertie) as runners on the blockbuster card.

Eight were entered in the five-furlong Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint. Among Stormy Liberal’s rivals is World of Trouble, who finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, and local multiple stakes winner Pay Any Price for trainer Georgina Baxter. 

Rockingham Ranch and David A. Bernstein’s Stormy Liberal, a finalist for an Eclipse Award as the outstanding turf mile of 2018, has raced once since the Breeders’ Cup, finishing second in the Joe Hernandez Stakes (G3) on Santa Anita’s downhill turf course on Jan. 1. The 7-year-old gelded son of Stormy Atlantic is closing in on $2 million in earnings.

Joel Rosario has the mount on Stormy Liberal from Post 3.

Trainer Jason Servis is keen to erase the disappointment of the Breeders’ Cup loss with World of Trouble, who finished second by a neck to Stormy Liberal.

“It was heartbreaking,” Servis said. “He ran so good. It was soft [turf] down inside. But it was a repeat winner. No disgrace. He ran the race of his life. We’ve always had this race on Pegasus Day in the back of our minds.”

Owned by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables LLC, and Bethlehem Stables LLC, World of Trouble enters the Turf Sprint off of a resounding victory in the Marion County Florida Sire Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Dec. 15.

Irad Ortiz Jr. rides World of Trouble from Post 4.

Also entered are multiple stakes winner Recruiting Ready for Sagamore Farms and trainer Stanley Hough; Oak Bluffs, the runner-up in this race last year; Little Chesney, the winner of the 2018 Jupiter Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park in August; and allowance winners, Belle Tapissiere and Singandcryindubai. 

The $150,000 Ladies’ Turf Sprint at five furlongs drew a field of 10 and includes the G. Watts Humphrey Jr.-owned Morticia, a winner of two of four starts over Gulfstream Park’s turf, including a maiden special weight and the Melody of Color Stakes, both run in 2017.  In her last start, Morticia, who is trained by George “Rusty” Arnold, finished second to Girls Know Best in the Abundantia Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 29.

“If you go by [speed figures], that last race is one of her very best races,” Arnold said. “The winner was just a little bit quicker, but we were slowly gaining on her, even though we weren’t going to beat her, by any means. It was a good race and a no-excuse second. She has really been doing well since then and is coming into this race in great shape.”

Tyler Gaffalione rides Morticia from Post 5.

Peter Miller, Stormy Liberal’s trainer, has a duo for the Ladies’ Turf Sprint in Painting Colors, a graded-placed runner, and Surrender Now, who has not raced since posting back-to-back allowance victories at Del Mar last August.

Also entered are Miz Mayhem, a local stakes winner from the barn of Eddie Plesa Jr.; Cherry Lodge, third in this race last year for Todd Pletcher; Smiling Causeway, a stakes winner for trainer Arnaud Delacour; the Jason Servis-trained Just Talkin, second in this race last year and her stablemate, Blue Bahia, who won Gulfstream Park’s Captiva Stakes last year; and allowance winners Pastime and Razorback Lady.

The $125,000 South Beach Stakes,  a 7 1/2-furlong turf race for older fillies and mares, attracted a full field of 14. 

Leading the field is Team Valor International’s Capla Temptress, who seeks back-to-back stakes wins at Gulfstream Park. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Capla Temptress won the My Charmer (G3) last month.

Joel Rosario has the assignment aboard Capla Temptress from Post 13.

Other South Beach entrants include Andina Del Sur, the runner-up in the Tropical Park Oaks in December; Road to Victory, the winner of the 2017 Golden Rod Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs; and Fire Key, a New York-bred stakes winner.