Trainer Jonathan Thomas was not on hand when Bridlewood Farm's Bay Storm lost last year's $1 million Ladies Turf Sprint (G2T) by a nose to the internationally accomplished Campanelle.
Being in absentia didn't dilute the sting of coming so close with a filly who tries so hard all the time. But at least Thomas was enjoying an otherwise happy occasion.
"That was pretty painful," he said. "Thankfully, I was in my sister's wedding with my phone in my pocket. I didn't get to see it in real-time. It was a pretty nasty beat, but at least it was by a good filly."
Bay Storm gets another crack Sept. 9 in the $1 million Ladies Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs, run as a grade 2 stakes for the first time. Florent Geroux has the mount. With Campanelle subsequently sold for $5 million and retired to Coolmore's broodmare band, Bay Storm looms among the favorites in the field of nine fillies and mares set to run 6 1/2 furlongs. Wakanaka and Our Flash Drive also figure to get a lot of play.
A 5-year-old daughter of Kantharos , Bay Storm earned a fees-paid spot in the Ladies Sprint after winning the $200,000 prep race at Ellis Park by a neck over Quaria Comet, who also is in Saturday's stakes. The Ellis victory was Bay Storm's first since she won a Monmouth Park sprint stakes before running at Kentucky Downs last year. However, she ran very well in those six intervening races, with three seconds, a pair of thirds, and a fourth by a total of a length.
"She's been looking for the winner's circle all year, but she's really shown up," Thomas said. "The idea was to have her hopefully peaking for this race, knowing how well she ran last year. Hopefully, we bring her over in good order and get lucky with her.
"I really like our filly. If she can replicate what she did last year, she'll be very tough."
Thomas believes the 6 1/2 furlongs—one of the few longer turf sprints for the division—works in Bay Storm's favor, even though she won the Ellis Park race at 5 1/2 furlongs.
"It seems to be her ideal distance," he said. "Five and a half is a bit short for her. A mile we've tried, and it's been a little too long. Every time she's run 6 1/2 she's been very competitive."
Thomas has done very well at Kentucky Downs, including winning a maiden and allowance race already this meet. Last year he had two seconds in stakes out of three starts—his first runners here since he won his Kentucky Downs debut in 2018 with Osare taking the Dueling Grounds Oaks.
Now Kentucky Downs is offering 11 stakes worth at least $1 million for Kentucky-breds, including six Saturday.
"It's great," Thomas said. "Listen, there's a lot of buzz about the place. It's a really fun place. Sometimes big days, big racing can get a little stuffy, and be a little over the top. There's just good energy here and it's fun."
Kentucky Downs, Saturday, September 9, 2023, Race 11Entries: AGS Ladies Turf Sprint S. (G2T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Fast and Feminine (KY) T. C. Stevens 121 Randy Snipes 30/1 2 2Quaria Comet (KY) Joseph Talamo 121 Paulo H. Lobo 5/1 3 3Wakanaka (IRE) Joel Rosario 121 William I. Mott 4/1 4 4Train to Artemus (KY) Gerardo Corrales 123 Kelly J. Breen 10/1 5 5Tony Ann (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 121 Philip D'Amato 6/1 6 6Bay Storm (KY) Florent Geroux 123 Jonathan Thomas 9/5 7 7Our Flash Drive (FL) John R. Velazquez 125 Mark E. Casse 10/1 8 8Unbridled Mary (KY) Vincent Cheminaud 123 John W. Sadler 20/1 9 9Gal in a Rush (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 121 Christophe Clement 12/1
