Going back to a running style that he found successful last spring, Max sent A Storm Has Arrived out quickly to compete on the front end, and never relinquished that lead right up to the wire, winning by a half length as a 13-1 underdog.

• New Orleans Handicap ( Gr. II ) – Purse $400.000
• Fair Grounds- For Four Years Old and Up
• One Mile and One Eighth in Distance- Main Track

While Catch A Buzz was caught amongst a group of runners late and would place eighth two shy, A Storm Has Arrived would take the lead at the midpoint down the backstretch after being caught in the draft of Veritas Aequitas ( Rampage Stable) coming off the turn.Breaking from the twelve hole forced this bay four year old out quickly to the front with an opening 46.41 half mile. It would be long after that A Storm Has Arrived would take the lead before entering the far turn, and stay in command to the wire ahead of his stablemate Gran Z who was full of run down the stretch. The Maxmillion duo would post times of 1:47.63 and 1:47.73 respectively as they would take the top two honors.

Four seasons ago, Max was able to take Generals Companion to the winners enclosure in this affair. He was a direct son of General Assembly that season, but so to does A Storm Has Arrived have that bloodline in his veins. Traced back three generations on his dam side to Stormy General and then Wild General before we find the General Assembly sire. Maybe this will be a trend for this trainer looking to find another talented runner to possibly repeat next season.

With his other talented four year old by the name of Gran Z, this 22-1 longshot stayed well out for the opening fractions. When put on his right lead and rider Beschizza was set down off the turn, it was like he was determined to make the most going from eighth place some three lengths out, to close to within a half length in the final furlong. While he has also gone to the front in past races, waiting for the right move here was definitely the way to challenge this event. We may very well see this duo race again in future endeavors. They would surprisingly only account for a $127.100 exactor payout with both being at such long odds.

Frustration must be how TwinTowersRacing is feeling as Serengeti Sands would end up for the show purse. Having already had two runner-up efforts this season with this gray colt, it will be interesting to see if there will be any consideration of going under the knife in his future. He is related to Ineffable, a two time Graded winner and one of this trainers breeding mares, so we may see him stay a colt for breeding purposes.

Final share would go to Brady Is A Lady ( Sharis Stables) who was made the post time favorite off his Gr.II San Pasqual efforts in his most recent, and his late charge to the front just came a little to late. Possibly a longer mile and a half race like either the Tokyo City Cup or the Marathon in April might fit the bill.

Track: Fast
Time: :46²  1:09⁴  1:34³  1:47³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 8 – 6 Paid 127.10
$1 Trifecta: 8 – 6 – 7 Paid 1,248.60

Scratched: Never Met Me

Duffer

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES