Kentucky-bred Got Stormy defeated males in the $500,000 Fourstardave S. (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 14, marking the second time the 6-year-old daughter of Fourstardave victor Get Stormy has captured the prestigious race. With her latest triumph, Got Stormy earned an automatic entry into the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) on Nov. 6 at Del Mar where she will try to emulate Fourstardave winners World Approval (2017), Tourist (2016) and Wise Dan (2012-13) who went on to also win the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
With Tyler Gaffalione aboard for owners My Racehorse Stable and Spendthrift Farm, Got Stormy settled just off the early leader Blowout (GB) in third. Moved to the two-path around the far turn, Got Stormy took dead-aim on the leaders. Given her cue around the quarter-pole, the brilliant chestnut mare rallied outside to take the lead outside the furlong marker and shook clear late to score by 1 ½ lengths over Set Piece (GB) in the end. She stopped the clock for the mile on the inner turf in 1:33.09.
“She was taking me the whole way,” said Gaffalione. “I was able to tuck in and save ground. She relaxed beautifully down the backside. Going into the turn, she started to pick up on her own and she starting creeping up. When I put her outside, she unleashed a big run and it was over from there.”
The win was Got Stormy’s third in a Grade 1 race and her seventh overall graded stakes win. In addition to her pair of victories in the Grade 1 Fourstardave, she also annexed the Matriarch Stakes (G1) at Del Mar in 2019. She first captured the Fourstardave in 2019 and she finished second in last year’s renewal. Bred in Kentucky by Mt. Joy Stables, Pope McLean, Marc McLean, and Pope McLean Jr., Got Stormy has banked more than $2.3 million in her stellar career. She sold to Spendthrift Farm at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed Sale for $2,750,000 out of the Bluewater Sales consignment. She is out of the Malabar Gold mare Super Phoebe.
“This was maybe even more exciting because they wrote her off,” said Mark Casse, fresh of his induction to the Hall of Fame. “They did the same to {2015 Champion Turf Female} Tepin, and she came back. I’m really proud. There’s been some bumps along the road with her, but she came when it was time.”