Gulfstream West: Absent the Breeders’ Cup, Stormy Embrace Gets Back to Work

By David Joseph —-

Absent the Breeders’ Cup, Stormy Embrace Gets Back to Work

Rainbow 6 Carryover Jackpot Swells to $396,350 for Thursday

MIAMI GARDENS, FL – Rather than being in California for the Breeders’ Cup, Matalona Thoroughbreds’ multiple graded-stakes winning homebred Stormy Embrace turned in a sharp five-furlong work from the gate Wednesday morning at Gulfstream Park West.

The 5-year-old Circular Quay mare completed the distance in 1:01 over a fast main track, the fastest of five horses. It was her third work since having a two-race win streak snapped when fourth in the Sheer Drama Stakes Sept. 7 at Gulfstream Park.

“She worked really good. We’ve had a little bit of a problem at the gate, so I opted for a gate work with her. She’s doing good,” trainer Kathleen O’Connell said. “It’s a shame. The Breeders’ Cup race would have been tough, but it was just getting to be too much of a challenge to get there.”

Stormy Embrace earned an all-fees-paid berth to Saturday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita by virtue of her repeat victory in the June 29 Princess Rooney (G2) at Gulfstream.

O’Connell, a winner of more than 2,100 career races, opted to skip the Breeders’ Cup this year rather than compromise Stormy Embrace’s chances following a lengthy cross-country commute. She finished 11th after a troubled trip in last year’s Filly & Mare Sprint, held at Churchill Downs.

“There was just no good way. I always try to think of her first,” O’Connell said. “Going to Lexington and then getting on [a plane], it just didn’t seem the thing to do. You’re talking about 14 hours from the time you get on until the time you get off. Then to run and come back and recover from all that was too much.”

Meanwhile, O’Connell is looking around for another spot to bring Stormy Embrace back. She is eligible for the $75,000 Sunshine Millions Distaff Nov. 9 at Gulfstream Park West, a seven-furlong sprint for Florida-bred fillies and mares 3 and up, where she ran third in 2017.

Stormy Embrace owns nine wins, six seconds and four thirds with $714,830 in purse earnings from 26 lifetime starts. In addition to the Princess Rooney, she won the Musical Romance Stakes at Gulfstream in 2018 and 2019.

“The main thing she’s doing well and we’re looking forward to getting her back, wherever we end up,” O’Connell said.

Rainbow 6 Jackpot Carryover Swells to Nearly $400,000 for Thursday

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 carryover jackpot swelled to $396,350.60 for Thursday’s eight-race card after going unsolved for the 22nd consecutive racing day Wednesday at Gulfstream Park West

Multiple tickets with all six winners Wednesday each returned 167.48.

The carryover jackpot is only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

The Rainbow 6 was solved at Gulfstream Park for a $2.2 million jackpot payoff Sept. 27 after going unsolved for 47 consecutive racing days.

Thursday’s Rainbow 6 spans Races 3-8, kicked off by a 5 ½-furlong maiden claiming event for 2-year-olds. First race post time is 1 p.m.

Gulfstream Park West is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness, and Rosecroft Raceway. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida, and is one of North America’s top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world’s largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; XpressBet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry. For more information contact David Joseph at david.joseph@gulfstreampark.com or call 954.457.6451.