Sunday, July 27, 2008

EASTERN INVADER STORM MESA WINS SAN CLEMENTE HANDICAP

Storm Mesa, an invader from the East who won the Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows in her previous race, made a successful leap into racing's major leagues today with an upset victory in Del Mar's featured $150,000 San Clemente Handicap for three-year-old fillies.

Ridden by veteran Eddie Martin, Jr., who was making his Del Mar debut, Storm Mesa overcame traffic trouble to rally wide and wear down the leaders to score a convincing 1 1/4–length triumph in stakes record time of 1:33.54 for the mile over the infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course. The previous mark was 1:33.62 by Katdogawn in 2003.


A game runner-up today was Tasha's Miracle, who shaded third-place Misty Ocean by a head, with 5-2 favored Missit another head back in fourth in the field of ten fillies. Comeback Queen was withdrawn from the original field.

Storm Mesa, a daughter of Sky Mesa and Narjis Flower bred in Kentucky, is owned by Richard L. Davis of Dallas, Texas and trained by W. Bret Calhoun, who was running a horse at Del Mar for the first time in his career.

Storm Mesa, notching her fifth consecutive triumph and fifth in ten starts, earned $90,000 for the win, increasing her bankroll to $329,510. In her debut on grass, the filly paid $17.60, $9.20 and $6.60.

Tasha's Miracle, who was piloted by Mike Smith, paid $6.80 and $5.60, while Misty Ocean returned $5.20.

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