The Eclipse Female Turf Horse of the Year Is………

By- Mike Haley (aka mhaley)

The following call is from the 2003 Breeder’s Bowl race #10 - The Turf Mile.

"Their coming to the half-Number Five I CAN SEE YOU maintains his lead of 2 lengths over SLINGBLADE EDISON. OBLIGING ZGREAT is back another ¼ in 3rd. GREENBACK PASSER is 4th, BIG RED NINER is 5th, CAD CROP is 6th and STORM DOG well within striking distance is 7th just 6 lengths off the leader. SUNKEN TREASURE brings up the rear a full 14 lengths off.

Shane Sullivan the owner/trainer of Amandas stables had this to say about STORM DOG.

"There isn’t much else I can say about STORM DOG. Every year I worry that my top horse will have lost the sparkle that she had the previous year and she (Storm Dog) certainly made me wonder with her first couple of performances in 2003. Maybe she just took longer than I had expected to get over the 13 week absence, but it saw the end of some of my early season plans for her. From there on in she did everything I asked of her - her only disappointing performance coming when taking on the colts in France, particularly as it saw her finish out of the frame for the first time in her life. Her response to that defeat was top class - winning three Grade 1 races in six weeks, culminating in the defense of her BB Mile crown, was an outstanding feat. I am prouder of her than anyone could think possible….."

STORM DOG was foaled back in the Spring of 2001. The daughter of STORM CAT x FAPPIANO x ROBERTO. Sullivan remembers that she cost about 450 credits at the time and that his goal was to win the English Classic. Sullivan was looking for a turf runner who could stay the distance.

"Storm Dog was always going to be aimed at NewMarket’s 1,000 Guineas."

She made her debut in week 998 at Victoria in a 5.5 furlong Alowance race. She finished 3rd in a field of 8 and posted a Speed Rating of 57, a steady, but hardly spectacular entry to her career. Five weeks later she found her way into a Maiden Special Weight again at 5.5 furlongs still at Victoria. This time Storm Dog, stepped up to 2nd and jumped her Speed Rating to 71.

Back to Great Britian and New South Wales in week 1075, this time Storm Dog breaks her maiden at 7 furlongs, winning over a field of 12 with a Speed Rating of 79. Week 1117 found her at Epsom and once again at 7 furlongs. Back to back wins with back to back Speed Ratings of 79. Storm Dog is on her way.

Just a short 3 weeks later, at Newmarket, Storm Dog enters her 1st stakes race. Contested at 7.5 furlongs she runs well (81), but finishes 3rd. Given a longer rest, she returns in week 1180 at Ascot in a Grade III race at 7 furlongs. She improves to 2nd and keeps getting faster (89). Storm Dog closes out her 2 year old season at Newmarket in week 1222. Back in a stakes race at 7 furlongs and this time she notches he 3rd win and her 1st ever stakes win over a small field in 1:23 and 6.

Seven races, 3 wins, 2 places and 2 shows and a bank account of $141,120, not a bad career start.

Owner Shane Sullivan remembers:

"When she won her first stakes race, it would be fair to say I was hopeful of big things to come but far from expectant."

2002 opened in Hong Kong in a Mile and a 1/16th Grade III. Storm Dog cruised to an easy win over the short field winning her largest purse to date - $75,000. Now with back to back stakes wins, Storm Dog returned to Ascot and won again at 8.5 furlongs with a Speed Rating of 94. Sullivan next sent her to the Americas and a Grade III Mile in Kentucky. Storm Dog won her 4th stakes race in a row and dropping a slick 1:36 and 2 for $90,000.

Now it was time for the big race, NewMarket and the 1,000 Guineas. Storm Dog’s 1st Grade I race. In full field of 14 and on a firm course Storm Dog broke in the middle of the pack and held there until the back straight. With 4 furlongs gone, Storm Dog started what would become her consistent second half charge. She moved easily to the lead and kept charging. Winning easily by 3 lengths in a hot 1:34 and 8 (Speed Rating of 112).

"It wasn’t until the Guineas that I realized she was World Class," owner Shane Sullivan commented in a 2002 ESPN thoroughbred special.

World class indeed, Storm Dog was on a roll. Newmarket was her 5th win in a row and all of them stakes races. A Grade I mile at Ostend extended the streak to six and a Grade II in Taiwan pushed it to seven. What a great run seven stakes race wins in succession.

Sullivan sent Storm Dog back to America, this time California for a Grade I at 9 furlongs. The race set up exactly as Storm Dog wanted. She was 6th at 4 furlongs just 4 lengths off the lead. All seemed perfect as he opened up and made her run. She waltzed in into 2nd but she was not making up ground on Shanrose Baby. Storm Dog ran a solid race posting a respectable 114 Speed Rating but she was 3 ¾ lengths back in 2nd. The streak had ended at 7.

Sullivan shipped her to Queensland for a Grade I back at a mile. A slightly smaller field and Storm Dog responded with a win in 1:35 and 2. Storm Dog’s final race of 2002 was at Illinois in another Grade I mile. In now classic style, Storm Dog ran with the pack for the 1st half of the race then charged into the lead never to look back winning in a stellar 1:33 and 8.

Storm Dog’s second campaign had ended with 9 races. 8 wins, all stakes races and a single 2nd place finish in California. After two seasons of racing Storm Dog had raced 16 times and had 11 wins - 9 of them stakes wins.

In the winter of 2002/2003 Storm Dog took a break. 13 weeks of rest and relaxation. Her last win of 2002 was at a blistering pace that allowed her to post a 122 Speed Rating. Sullivan could see great things on the horizon.

2003 opened in New South Wales, the site of Storm Dog’s maiden win. This time it was a mile of Grade I competition:  The Sexy Muffins classic with a full field of 14 and Storm Dog in the dreaded #14 hole. In post position #3 was another highly touted filly - Fat Free Car. A year older than Storm Dog, she had already run 29 races and had 14 wins including 8 stakes wins. The Sexy Muffins started as expected with Storm Dog and Fat Free Car running side by side at the back of the pack. Fat Free Car made her move first and Storm Dog followed. They moved through the pack but Fat Free Car was pulling away for the win in 1:34 and 2 and a personal best Speed Rating of 117. Storm Dog lost steam and finished 3rd 5 ¾ back in 1:35 even (109).

This was the first time that Storm Dog’s charge had fizzled out. Four weeks later in Ohio, Storm Dog stepped up to 9 furlongs in the Grade III Good Vista Handicap. Sullivan apparently wanted to give her a chance to regain her form. This time Storm Dog was in post position #9 in a 12 mare field. In post position #6 Storm Dog was facing an erratic filly named Vision of a Dancer. In three seasons of racing she had 8 wins including 7 stakes wins. Vision of a Dancer was a world beater when she was in form, but she was erratic. At the end of 2002 she came up injured in week 1593. In 2003 she opened up with a lack luster 5th place finish and a Speed Rating of 88.

Storm Dog and Vision of a Dancer ran side by side in the middle of the pack. For the 2nd race in a row Storm Dog was beat to the punch as Vison of a Dancer opened up first. Storm Dog followed as she had done against Fat Free Cat but once again it was not to be. Vision of a Dancer ran on to an easy victory posting a Speed Rating of 111. For the second race in a row Storm Dog’s charge had fizzled in front of the grandstand, finishing 3rd again in a disappointing 100.

Sullivan decided to keep his filly in the states, moving her to Virginia and the warmer Spring weather. Sullivan looked of a soft race for her to regain her form and he found it in the 10th race. A short field of four in a listed stakes race and a drop to 8.5 furlongs all boded well for Storm Dog. Running 3rd, 5 lengths back, Storm Dog made her move at 4 furlongs and you could tell right away this was the old charge. This time she had closed into second as she started past the grandstand. With an explosive burst of speed she rocketed into first and on to an easy win posting a Speed Rating of 120. Storm Dog was back.

Graded Stakes wins in Florida, California and Kentucky followed all at just a bit more than a mile. Speed ratings of 117, 116 and 114 were healthy wins. Next she was off to her first visit to France and a meeting with the colts in a Grade I Jack The Man Stakes mile. A race owner Shane Sullivan would like to forget. Storm Dog finished 6th, 10 ¼ lengths back. Her 109 Speed Rating was reasonable, but not against the premier colts. Sullivan worried that she might take a while to bounce back from her first bad defeat. In 23 races this was the first time Storm Dog had not finished on the board. Could she rally back?

Back at Ascot just 5 weeks later Storm Dog is entered in the Grade I Queen Ascot Stakes mile. A full field of 14 and she has drawn post position #4. Old nemesis, Fat Free Car is in post postion #14 and coming off back-to-back grade I wins. Storm Dog settles 6th and is running easily. Fat Free Car is back in 11th and does not look comfortable. At four furlongs Storm Dog starts her run. Fat Free Car is slow to respond and even when she does she looks sluggish. Storm Dog charges into the lead and never looks back winning in a breeze at 1:34 even (SR 120). Fat Free Car is never a factor rising only to 8th place.

Sullivan now clearly has his eyes on a 2nd Breeder’s Bowl win and send Storm Dog to California for a tune up in week 1901, a grade I mile. Storm Dog draws the inside post #1. Fat Free Car is in post position #3. Fat Free Car has decided to make Storm Dog catch her. She breaks in 3rd and Storm Dog was in her normal mid pack - 6th. At four furlongs Storm Dog is still 6th and Fat Free Cat 3rd. They both start to move. Fat Free Car moves into 2nd and starts to challenge for the lead. Storm Dog works his way into 3rd about 2 ½ lengths back. Danzing Groom holds off Fat Free Car until they turn for home. Storm Dog is still 2 ½ back. Fat Free Car into the lead, Storm Dog blasts into 2nd just a length back as they go to the stands. Storm Dog blows by Fat Free Car as they pass the corporate boxes. Storm Dog wins by 3 in 1:34 even and has now defeated Fat Free Car in two successive races.

Next up the Breeder’s Bowl and Storm Dog has a chance to repeat at the Turf Miler Champion.

[Eclipse Award Dinner - 2004]

When asked by reporters about Storm Dog’s future plans, Sullivan confidently stated, "My sole aim is to keep her at the top of her form as long as possible. I know her dominance cannot last forever but I would be disappointed if she were in the breeding barn this time next year. I would really like to go for a third Breeder’s Bowl win, although we will have to see how she gets on in her next few starts."

Storm Dog had just lost her first race of 2004, finishing 3rd after an 11 week rest. It took her two races to shake off the cobwebs after her last long rest at the start of the 2003 season. Do not be surprised to see Storm Dog back in the 2004 Breeder’s Bowl Turf Mile running for her third consecutive championship.

"Their coming to the half - Storm Dog starts her move. She’s coming on strong closing in on the leaders. They turn for home, Storm Dog in 2nd by a 1/2 when she hits the jets. Can she win three Breeder’s Bowls in a row……………………………..

Race ID	Trk	RST	S	D	Race	Time	SP#	#	PP	C1	C2	C3	FIN	Jockey	Odds
1922.011	CA	3yo+	T	8	Breeders Bowl Mile -G1	1:33 2/5	125	14	12	8 5-3/4	7 7-3/4	4 2-1/4	1 1/4	amandas	H Ross	3.50
1901.0113	CA	F-3yo+	T	8	The Nashwan Mile-G1	1:34	120	9	1	6 4	6 5-3/4	3 2-1/4	1 2-1/2	amandas	F Gossett	1.00
1880.3315	E1	F-3yo+	T	8	Queen Ascot Stakes -G1	1:34	120	14	4	6 2-1/4	6 2-3/4	3 3/4	1 3-1/4	amandas	P Perren	3.20
1845.6215	FR	3yo+	T	8	Jack The Man Stakes -G1	1:33 4/5	109	10	7	8 4-3/4	7 6-1/2	7 7-1/4	6 10-1/4	amandas	P Rodman	3.80
1803.0315	KY	F-3yo+	T	8	Independence Day BB Stakes -G2	1:34 3/5	114	7	6	4 2	3 2-3/4	2 1-1/4	1 2-1/2	amandas	I Hoge	1.20
1775.0115	CA	F-3yo+	T	9	Ugly Breeders Bowl Distaff -G1	1:47 4/5	116	12	5	8 4-3/4	7 6-3/4	3 3/4	1 4	amandas	A Casillas	1.90
1747.0215	FL	F-3yo+	T	8.5	Tai-Bo Stakes -G3	1:41 2/5	117	6	5	5 4	5 4-3/4	1 3/4	1 5-3/4	amandas	W Baumann	.40
1705.1710	VA	F-4yo+	T	8.5	The Virginia 1705 Handicap -Stk	1:41	120	4	3	3 4	3 5-3/4	2 2-1/4	1 5-1/2	amandas	R Goodburn	.30
1677.1115	OH	F-4yo+	T	9	Good Vista Handicap -G3	1:48 2/5	100	12	9	6 5-3/4	6 8-3/4	4 9	3 9-1/2	amandas	R Dickenson	2.20
1649.5415	A2	F-4yo+	T	8	Sexy Muffins Classic -G1	1:34 1/5	109	14	14	10 3-1/2	10 5	8 4	3 5-3/4	amandas	M Hobbs	3.40