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Colt Storms to win in Norfolk Al Eisman & William Currin's STORMELLO (Stormy Atlantic) stalked the pace in the $247,000 Norfolk Breeders' Cup S. (G2) at Oak Tree at Santa Anita on Sunday before coming wide in the stretch and overtaking the leader to record a neck victory. With Kent Desormeaux aboard, the Currin-trained juvenile finished the 1 1/16-mile test on the fast dirt in 1:43 as the 11-1 fourth choice. It wasn't a clean beginning for some in the field when the gates opened. Sunshine Ridge (Snow Ridge), breaking from post 5, stumbled and almost went to his knees. Recovering, the dark bay gelding showed his displeasure by throwing his head around before jockey David Cohen could get him settled. Then, 6-5 favorite Horse Greeley (Mr. Greeley), who had been bumped when breaking just to the inside of Sunshine Ridge, didn't corner well as the field entered the first turn and went wide, falling back to last. While all this was going on, 9-5 second favorite Principle Secret (Sea of Secrets) was quickly moving to the front, with Stormello angling in from his far outside post. Setting splits of :22 2/5, :45 4/5 and 1:10 1/5, Principle Secret continued on his quest to keep his record perfect as Spot the Diplomat (Worldly Manner), Lucky Thirteen (Swiss Yodeler) and Stormello battled it out around him. Coming into the stretch, Stormello was best of that bunch and eventually proved best of all. Running down the middle of the track, the chestnut drew even with Principle Secret a few jumps before the wire before edging in front to score his first stakes victory. "I'm thrilled to death that this horse is a homebred," Currin said after the race. "This colt will run all day. He's got speed, he's got stamina, he's got guts, he's happy, he's healthy." Stormello was worth $25.80, $8.40 and $5 while starting the $1 exotics of $39.30 (exacta), $271.80 (trifecta) and $2,547.50 (9-3-8-1 superfecta). Principle Secret was easily best of the rest, 6 1/2 lengths clear of Spot the Diplomat, to pay $4.40 and $3.20. Show gave back $5.40 at 15-1. Swiss Ski (Swiss Yodeler) finished another 2 1/4 lengths behind in fourth and was followed by Roman Commander (Deputy Commander), Malt Magic (Cherokee Run), Horse Greeley, Lucky Thirteen and Sunshine Ridge. Unusual Suspect (Unusual Heat) was withdrawn. With the Norfolk score, Stormello improved his record to 5-2-0-2 and now owns $230,200 in lifetime earnings. Prior to this event, the chestnut ran third to Horse Greeley in the Del Mar Futurity (G2) and third to Principle Secret in the Best Pal S. (G2). The Kentucky-bred Stormello is the first registered foal out of the Carson City mare Wilshewed, who has since produced an unnamed yearling full sister to the Norfolk winner and an unnamed 2006 filly by Malibu Moon. Stormello is likely headed to the November 4 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Churchill Downs off this win.
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