Grimley just proved to make a nice purchase in the SEP 2015 Auction…  plunking down $24.990 sure does seem smart right about now as Antelope Storm sat just behind the early pace, moved up to take the lead at the top of the lane and went on gamely to take Saturday’s Muniz Memorial Handicap (GII) by a half length in a final time of 1:44⁴  for the mile and an eighth on a FG turf course that was labeled firm.  You Big Freak woke up to run a game second and Full Speed Ahead was another length and a half back in third.

The field of ten got away from the gate in good order with You Big Freak showing speed from the far outside.  Duca Di Toscana and Antelope Storm back towards the inside, Seattle General, Speedthriller with Il Capitano next to him, Lythrum Salicaria was next, Full Speed Ahead on his outside, March Madness on his inside and Kentucky Hero was the early trailer.

By the stands the first time and now edging into the clubhouse turn with six and a half furlongs to run, You Big Freak crossed over to the rail and was in front by a length and a half.  Seattle General giving chase, Speedthrifter a length off of that one, Antelope Storm up the rail, another length to Duca Di Toscana, then another length and a half to Il Capitano on the rail, Lythrum Salicaria next to him.  Two more lengths to Full Speed Ahead, March Madness and Kentucky Hero was at the rear, eight lengths covered them.

Around the clubhouse turn and now headed down the backside and now three and a half furlongs to the wire, You Big Freak continued to show the way by two lengths.  Seattle General with a wide trip and now Antelope Storm up to join that one from the rail.  A length back to Speedthriller, then a gap of two back to Lythrum Salicaria three wide, Duca Di Toscana between horses and Il Capitano from the rail.  Another length to Full Speed Ahead, March Madness between horses and Kentucky Hero could still see them all and still eight lengths from the leader.

Now moving around the far turn and into the lane, they made their way past the three-sixteenths pole and You Big Freak was now being joined by Antelope Storm up the rail.  Two lengths back to Seattle General, still wide, Speed Thriller just off of that one, another length to Duca Di Toscana, Full Speed Ahead now accelerating from the far outside, Lythrum Salicaria and March Madness to his inside, Kentucky Hero feeling the whip and Il Capitano put the cue in the rack.

Deep stretch… inside the final 150-yards and to the wire, Antelope Storm up to stick a nose in front, You Big Freak trying to battle back a big gap back to the battle for third… but as they neared the wire, this was all about Antelope Storm as he went under the wire in front by a widening half-length.  You Big Freak continued on to be a game second, two lengths in front of a hard closing Full Speed Ahead in third.  March Madness also closed a late gap to be fourth, Seattle General in fifth, Kentucky Hero passed tiring rivals to be seventh, Duca Di Toscana in eighth, Speedthriller in ninth and Il Capitano closed this one out.

Antelope Storm is a 5yo bay gelded son of Stormy – Antelope Lady, by Antelope Valley, and he was bred in Frozen Tundra in Cal.  This was his eighth win from eighteen lifetime starts and he has two wins from his three seasonal starts.  Now showing earnings for $362.500, and $218.000 of that coming this year, it looks like this one is just starting to hit his stride and run his best races.

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Firm       Time: :46⁴  1:09⁴  1:33¹  1:44⁴
$1 Exacta: 1 – 10 Paid 192.10         $1 Trifecta: 1 – 10 – 8 Paid 1,462.80
Scratched: None

Categories: Grade II