A Stormy Crossing

I’ve written previously about Foolish Pleasure’s relative success as a turf sire, particularly through his daughters such as Idyllic whose son (by Sadler's Wells) Scenic is in the bloodline of three 2009 champions in Australia and a host of other stakes winners. The recent turf success of Get Stormy and Stormy Rush suggests another potent Foolish Pleasure damside turf influence, when crossed with Stormy Atlantic.

Four-year-old Get Stormy (Stormy Atlantic-Foolish Gal, by Kiri’s Clown) is finally coming into his own as a graded-stakes competitor, establishing himself in the past year as a turf miler who can stretch out for trainer Tom Bush, with victories in the 8.5 furlong G2 Fourstardave Handicap (in near record time) and 9 furlong G2 Bernard Baruch Stakes most recently. His dam Foolish Gal never placed in four races at 2 and 3, including one on turf. His 3/4 brother Foolish Tiger (Hold That Tiger) has been working at Belmont for Barclay Tagg, and is entered in a 7 furlong turf MSW at Belmont next Wednesday (September 29), with Get Stormy’s regular jockey Javier Castellano aboard.

Two-year-old colt Stormy Rush (Stormy Atlantic-Willow Rush, by Wild Rush) broke his maiden on turf at Woodbine in late July by 4 1/2 lengths, and followed that up with a 3-length allowance win over the Polytrack for trainer Roger Attfield. Most recently he finished a troubled third in the 8 furlong turf G3 Summer Stakes, but looks to have a bright future, with his next target the October 6 G3 Grey Stakes at Woodbine. His stakes-winning dam Willow Rush is out of the G3 winning Reet Petite, a daughter of Foolish Pleasure’s son Maudlin.

These two aren’t the first with this particular cross to enjoy turf success. New Edition (Stormy Atlantic-Sashay Away, by Farma Way) was a decent grass runner, winning the 2007 Denise Rhudy Memorial at Delaware Park before finishing second, a mere 1/2 length behind Dreaming of Anna in the Virginia Oaks, and then followed that up with a runner-up performance to Sharp Susan in the G2 Lake Placid Stakes.

Not all have won on turf either. At age 6, Miss Atlantic (Stormy Atlantic-Gan’s Girl, by Prospector’s Music) may be toiling in the claiming ranks these days, but as a 2-year-old she broke her maiden first out, going 5.5 furlongs son dirt at Remington Park, and was twice stakes-placed on dirt at Prairie Meadows (Wild Rose, Iowa Distaff). Her second dam How Pleasant is by Foolish Pleasure. Her 3-year-old full sister Atlantic Breeze has yet to hit the board in two starts on dirt, but is entered in a 7.5 furlong maiden special weight on turf at Calder on Saturday (race 3) so if you are looking for a favorable betting angle for her, this may be it.