6/20/2020

 4   SA     Snow Chief Stakes
   $200.000   3yo Foaled in CA      1 1/8m  Turf        122lbs +penalties

Four lengths separated the field and it WAS in the cards for Stormbringer as the 3yo colt bounced back from a tiring effort at a mile over this strip only to get the job done in Saturday’s Snow Chief Stakes at a mile and an eighth over the lush SA turf course.  Party At The Zu made a great late push to take the second spot by a head over the lightly raced Annihilator in third.  The final running time was 1:45.82 on a course listed as firm.

The gate was set on the main track at the bottom of the down-hill course and as the bell rang, Atomic Eclipse was out to the early lead, Cheap Trip on the inside of that one and Trumbull Valley along the rail, Stormbringer just in behind that duo, Annihilator next to that one, then Fallacious, In The Crease on his inside, Scarlet Devil and Party At The Zu was the early trailer.

Around the clubhouse turn and nearing the backside with five furlongs to run, Atomic Eclipse continued to show the way by two.  Trumbull Valley up the rail, Cheap Trick on his flank, then a length and a half back to Stormbringer up the rail, Annihilator between horses and Fallacious caught three wide.  Another gap back to the trailing trio of Party At The Zu on the rail, Scarlet Devil three wide and In The Crease between that pair.

Down the backside and into the far turn, they had a quarter mile to run and Atomic Eclipse continued to show the way by two lengths.  Trumbull Valley came off of the rail, fanning out for the run to the wire, Stormbringer now three wide and inching up, Cheap Trick four wide and Annihilator five wide.  Back to the rail for Party At The Zu, now making a move, with Fallacious, Scarlet Devil and In The Crease needed to get in gear if they wanted to be part of this one.

Mid-way through the lane, they had spread out and everyone at least had a clear path to the wire… Stormbringer up to take the lead, Atomic Eclipse trying to find more, Party At The Zu now in full flight, Annihilator down the middle of the track, Trumbull Valley using an inside position, then back to Scarlet Devil, Cheap Trick, as Fallacious and In The Crease were at the back of the field.

Down to the last 150-yards and to the wire, this was a four horse battle for the win, Stormbringer with the lead, Party At The Zu gaining, as was Annihilator down the outside and Atomic Eclipse on the rail, and as they hit the wire, it was horseflesh and silks… and the PHOTO sign went up on the tote board.  After viewing the instant replay, the stewards saw that Stormbringer hit the wire first, Party At The Zu just a nose back in second, then a head back to Annihilator in third.  Atomic Eclipse was fourth, then Trumball Valley in fifth, Scarlet Devil sixth, Cheap Trick seventh, Fallacious eighth and In The Crease was last.

Stormbringer is a 3yo black gelded son of Commanding The Storm – 5th Matrix, by Zlaudius, and he was bred in CA by Barcelona Farms.  This is only his second win from twelve lifetime starts, and he now has $166.490 in lifetime earnings.  Acquired by John Henry four races ago for $100.000, this one looks like a great buy and should have a long career.

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Firm                       Time: :47   1:10   1:33⁴  1:45⁴
$1 Exacta: 1 – 9 Paid 74.90        $1 Trifecta: 1 – 9 – 3 Paid 282.80
Scratched: None

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded