Longshot Stormy Liberal wins Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint

Longshot Stormy Liberal won the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, rallying to beat stablemate Richard's Boy by a head in the five-furlong race on Saturday.

Home-field advantage proved huge as Joel Rosario piloted the 30-1 Stormy Liberal to a stirring victory, giving local trainer Peter Miller his first Breeders' Cup win.

Flavien Prat was aboard the Miller-trained Richard's Boy, who was overtaken in the stretch but took second by half a length from Disco Panther.

"It was just a surreal experience to see Richard's Boy look like he was going to win then I was rooting for Joel and then I was just, like, 'One of you win!'" said Miller, a four-time leading trainer at Del Mar Racetrack, which is hosting the $28 million Breeders' Cup for the first time.

"You know, Joel did a fantastic ride, as did Flavien Prat," Miller added. "I had a lot of faith in both these horses. They show up every time."

Stormy Liberal, a 5-year-old gelding claimed by owner Gary Hartunian for $40,000 a year ago at Santa Anita, had run poorly in his most recent start four months ago.

He gave Rosario a sixth Breeders' Cup win and his second in the Turf Sprint, which he won on Bobby's Kitten in 2014 at Santa Anita.

"He broke well," Rosario said. "I asked him a little to get my spot. They were going very fast in front. But I listened to Peter. He said to stay inside and save some ground and then make my run. I did that and it worked out perfect."

Trainer Wesley Ward's Lady Aurelia, sent off a 5-4 favorite, finished 10th as her anticipated rematch with the Mark Prescott-trained Marsha came to nothing.

Marsha, beaten by Lady Aurelia by a nose in the Nunthorpe Stakes, was sixth.

"She has run very well on an unfamiliar track and she wasn't beaten far," said Marsha's jockey, Luke Morris. "She's probably better on a straight track."

Lady Aurelia's jockey John Velazquez said he had a "perfect trip."

"There were a couple of speed horses so I let them go," he said. "I got into a spot I wanted at the three-eighths pole and she was just flat down the lane."

source: AFP