Stormello

[FOS]

hi guys

Stormello's connections found him a flight to Miami on Wednesday, and apparently the plan is to run him in Gulfstream Park's G2-Fountain of Youth Stakes (this Saturday)...at a mile and a sixteenth. I can't recall the last time a 3-yo Kentucky Derby prospect flew to Florida (off a G1 win in SoCal) to run at Gulfstream Park.

Seems like an interesting call (by his connections); and I look forward to seeing how Nobiz Like Showbiz (if he runs) handles a horse like Stormello. Stormello seems to have a high cruising speed...and he has proven to be extremely game.

On the flip side, Stormello doesn't seem to be an easy guy to rate, but occasionally (maybe rarely is a better word) a horse with his brand of speed has the ability to carry it and land a knockout punch going the mile and a quarter Ky Derby distance.

I like the call to travel east and test the waters. That said, is it unreasonable to suggest that Stormello might not be at his best Saturday (after all he flew 3000 miles on Wednesday, plus vanned at both ends, is in new surroundings etc etc etc). Regardless I very much look forward to the race, and salute Stormello's connections for thinking out-of-the-box.

Regardless whether he wins on Saturday or not, but assuming he runs well and comes out of the race 100% (and ultimately runs in the Ky Derby)...is Stormello a horse that might possibly wire the Ky Derby field?

As a matter of interest (and for what it's worth) Stormello is out of a Carson City daughter...as was last year's Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.

Thoughts?

Respectfully

[ratherrapid]

i liked stormello's two year old race against principle secret who seems a very fast horse maybe in a questionable situation. i was then surprised at stormello's abscense down the stretch of the breeders cup juvenile. i'm impressed by the shipping to gulfstream by currin who said he did so to prove a point about east coast horses. seems to indicate connections putting in extraordinary energy in addition to normal prep. since i know nothing about currin, i'm currious as to what sort of trainer he is. this stuff after all is more about the training than the horses. if a talented horse like stormello is well prepared, and that is the question, he should be right in there when facing any horse trained by b. tagg.

[Ill-bred]

Stormello's dam (Wilshewed) had some gas but couldn't get a mile. Barbaro's dam had excellent form going as long as 1 3/8 miles. Same sire, but I don't think they're very similar. I personally don't think Stormello is a 10-furlong horse, but he is gutsy.

[FOS]

hi Ill-bred...hi ratherrapid

Trainer Currin seems to call it as he sees it, and doesn't mince his words. He has indicated that he believes Stormello is something special, and I sense he really means it. I expect it's probably fair to say that he's been around enough horses to recognize a stand-out when he sees one. I also get a sense that jockey Kent Desormeaux feels the same way (about Stormello).

On the surface it seems (to me anyway) that a mile and a quarter might be asking a bit much of Stormello, but he is one gutsy tough son of a gun. He proved that in the 1 1/16 mile Hollywood Futurity when he was headed down the stretch...but dug in, retook the lead, and would not be denied. I saw NO quit in Stormello...I saw determination coupled with the physical prowess to get the job done.

Arguably his pedigree might raise some doubts re his ability to prevail at a mile and a quarter...but he seems to be a rare bird, and I look forward to seeing if he can continue to make the case for himself that he's a genuine classics contender.

Respectfully

[Ill-bred]

I think Adore the Gold is very interesting, but he drew a horrible post (9).

I like that he's out of a Dixieland Band mare and has a tail female line that traces back through Dashing By and Big Hurry to La Troienne.

Sire Formal Gold (by Black Tie Affair) should get him to 9 furlongs and maybe beyond.

Adore the Gold was very gutsy (and smokin' fast) when winning the Swale, and he has already won going 1 1/16 around two turns. Rider switch to Prado can't hurt. The price should be good.

That being said, Shobiz is the real deal and should get a great stalking trip from the 5-hole.

[louis finochio]

Outside of Stormello the West Coast 3 yr. olds dont seam to light the fire.

Stormello will test the leaders of the 3yr. old division on Saturday, and then we can draw some lines as who is at the head of the class.

[zinn21]

Bill Currin with a bold move. I like it. Guess will see if Showbiz likes the heat Stormello should deliver..

[FOS]

hi zinn21

Bill Currin with a bold move. I like it. Guess will see if Showbiz likes the heat Stormello should deliver.

I agree....but...

...the 14 hour, 3000 mile trip (just the day before yesterday) from his stall in California to his stall at Gulfstream Park (where he reportedly arrived Wednesday night) has to be cause for concern, don't you think?.

Regardless...what a bold move (your words) by Currin.

He really believes he's got something special in Stormello.

Respectfully

[Heidilady]

Steven Haskin from Bloodhorse seems to think Nobiz is turning into a pretty darn impressive specimen. I recall him thinking Adore the Gold (pretty sure it was him) was bright and alert and appeared to be one happy horse so who knows. I think we're gonna have a fun race and much like Dynaformer last year, I'll have a few horses I'll like partly due to their sires. I'll be honest, I'd be kinda tickled if Albert the Great gets something good out of this. Talk about an underdog stallion. It's like they're just waiting for an excuse to toss him. Nobiz might be his big shot before he gets sent somewhere.

I just don't know what to think about Stormello, I just don't know. Jury's still out for me. The cross country flight is both worrisome and impressive in terms of what lengths they'll go to.

[wallinga]

I think we're gonna have a fun race and much like Dynaformer last year, I'll have a few horses I'll like partly due to their sires. I'll be honest, I'd be kinda tickled if Albert the Great gets something good out of this. Talk about an underdog stallion. It's like they're just waiting for an excuse to toss him. Nobiz might be his big shot before he gets sent somewhere.

It's crazy how stallions get that one horse in a sireline, go for gin, albert the great, nobiz. In Aus we had Showdown, sire The judge and then zeditive and the line just clings by a thread

[FOS]

hi louis finochio

What's the word that you've heard re Stormello?

Best to you.

Respectfully

[FOS]

hi guys

We'll know how it all unfolds very soon, but clearly Nobiz Like Showbiz is the morning line favorite in the Fountain of Youth.

Here are some of the particulars...

Gulfstream Park - March 3rd, 2007 - Race 10
Fountain of Youth S. - Grade 2
Estimated Post Time: 5:24 PM Eastern
Three Year Olds
Purse: $350,000
Distance:One And One Eighth Miles
Surface: Dirt

Post
1 Johannesburg Star
weight 116...morning line 15/1

2 Hal's My Hope
weight 116...morning line 30/1

3 Drums of Thunder
weight 120...morning line 8/1

4 Stormello
weight 122...morning line 4/1

5 Nobiz Like Shobiz
weight 122...morning line 6/5

6 Meritocracy
weight 116...morning line 20/1

7 Divine Master
weight 116...morning line 30/1

8 Scat Daddy
weight 120...morning line 3/1

9 Adore the Gold (KY)
weight 120...morning line 8/1

----------------------------------------------------------

For what it's worth, Stormello reportedly galloped for the first time over the Gulfstream Park main track yesterday (Friday), going a mile. This after a 3000 mile, 14 hour trip on Wednesday...arriving at Gulfstream that evening.

To my way of thinking, it sounds like he's not been given the best circumstances to enhance his chances for success; but, he seems to be one tough son of a gun and I am looking forward to seeing how it all unfolds.

Good luck to all.

Respectfully

[geowarrior]

Well it's nice to see connections who are seeking competition rather than avoiding it. But this is a tough field with not only Nobiz and Stormello, but Adore The Gold and also Drums of Thunder who is being largely ignored but is a very good horse, as well Scat Daddy who isn't competitive in this field (now watch me eat crow).

[ratherrapid]

ive looked up currin. nice old fellow, if 70 is old anymore. kind u root for. analyze it this way: stormello has had a good series of works in february. currin was unafraid to breeze him fast 2/24--that's big in my book. but, then he last raced in December. probability despite 1:39 mile mid-feb that he lacks racing fitness at this point. but, depends on what currin has been doing with him between breezes. what i fear here, considering the non-athetle nature of the trainer, would be that since 2/24 stormello has done very little. but, that is unknown. if the horse has been working since 2/24, he would be very tough. otherwise, he'll fade. i look at this race that it will tell us something about currin, and also what a nice job barclay tagg seems to be doing of late. best training i saw by looking at all of them was "Street Sense". might be the overlooked monster in the whole group.

[geowarrior]

A bit of late money going on Scat Daddy but Nobiz is at 1 to 2.