b'TurF MALe MALe SPrInTerStormyRoy HLiberal By traCy gantzryan thoMpsonRoy H stands alone as the only horse to win two editions of the Breeders Cup Sprint By Frank angSt Sistercharlie won four grade 1s. (G1) and two Eclipse Award male sprint titles. He followed Midnight Lute as the In closing the year with four straightsecond horse to capture two Breeders Cup victories, a stretch capped by the defense ofTurF FeMALe Sprints, but Midnight Lute was voted only his Breeders Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) score,one championship.Stormy Liberal becomes the first sprinterSister- Hes a very special horse to me, said to earn an Eclipse Award in the Turf Maletrainer Peter Miller, who has guided Roy division. H to both championship seasons for Gary In a year that no male horse dominatedHartunians Rockingham Ranch and David the traditional top two- or three-turn turfcharlie Bernsen.races in North Americatypically the racesTo win his first Eclipse title in 2017, Roy that produce the Eclipse Award winner inH capped the season at Del Mar with his vic-this divisionStormy Liberal made history,tory in the TwinSpires Breeders Cup Sprint. winning four of seven starts, the longest atBy Meredith daugherty After that, Miller said he gave Roy H a little about 6 12furlongs. time off at Del Mar, what the trainer called In late March at Meydan in Dubai, Rock- With four grade 1 wins to her credit inNovember by the beach. Miller entered Roy ingham Ranch and David Bernsens Stormy2018, Peter Brants Sistercharlie is not accus- H in the Feb. 3 Palos Verdes Stakes (G2) at Liberal put in a strong run against toptomed to losing. Less than two years since sheSanta Anita, resulting in an easy 3 12 -length international sprinters to earn a runner-uparrived in North America from France, thetriumph in the six-furlong event.finish in the Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored bydaughter of Myboycharlie can count amongMiller and the owners sent Roy H to Azizi Developments (G1) on Dubai Worldher accolades the Eclipse Award for champi- Dubai for the March 31 Dubai Golden Sha-Cup Day. But the Stormy Atlantic geldingon turf female.heen Sponsored by Gulf News (G1), where really put things together in the summer andBred in Ireland by Ecurie des Monceaux,he finished third to Mind Your Biscuits, a fall, reeling off four straight narrow victoriesSistercharlie, out of the Galileo mare Starletshorse he had beaten in the 2017 Breeders capped by a hard-fought win over World ofSister, began her career in France at 2 andCup. The trip might have cost Roy H the Trouble in the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint. worked her way into group company at 3.July 28 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1). He finished The neck margin of victory in the TurfBrant purchased the filly shortly beforesecond to Ransom the Moon. Sprint would be the most decisive earned inthe French Oaks, her last start in France.The trainer decided that Roy H might 2018 by Stormy Liberal, who was guidedShipped to the United States and placedbenefit from a change of scenery, from train-by Drayden Van Dyke throughout the winwith trainer Chad Brown, Sistercharlie madeing at Santa Anita to San Luis Rey Downs.streak. it crystal clear from the start that a changeMiller instituted the same end-of-year Stormy Liberal is one of two horsesin continents would pose little obstacle toplan that had worked in 2017, prepping for trained by Peter Miller to earn Eclipse Awardscontinuing her excellence.the Breeders Cup with the Santa Anita Sprint this year as Roy H secured his second straightThe professional mare won four of herChampionship Stakes (G1). Roy H had championship in the male sprinter division.five starts for 2018all at different courses.won the Sprint Championship by a length Miller said after the Breeders Cup thatSistercharlie opened the year with a vic- in 2017, and he improved that margin to 2 34Stormy Liberals competitiveness allows himtory in the April 14 Coolmore Jenny Wileylengths in 2018.to pull out those close wins. Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland and was edgedToday he brought his A game, said He just has tremendous heart; reallyby a head for second in the June 8 New YorkMiller after the Sprint Championship.wants to win. He knows where the wire is.Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G2T) atThat A game remained in place for the He does just enough; he doesnt over exertBelmont Park. She rebounded to take theBreeders Cup at Churchill Downs. Roy H himself in any race or any workout. Hes aDiana Stakes (G1T) July 21 at Saratoga Racemade a decisive move on the turn for jockey very smart horse, Miller said. Course and the Beverly D. Stakes (G1T)Paco Lopez to grab the lead and saunter Stormy Liberal, out of the Royal Acad- Aug. 11 at Arlington International Race- home by 3 14lengths over Whitmore, with emy mare Vassar, was bred in Kentucky bycourse in rapid succession.favored Imperial Hint finishing third.Dapple Bloodstock and Gryphon Invest- Having been bumped at the start of theIt was pretty amazing to rebound after a ments. Stormy Liberal is the first EclipseNov. 3Makers Mark Breeders Cup Fillykind of disappointing run in Dubai and the Award winner for sire Stormy Atlantic, who& Mare Turf (G1T) at Churchill Downs,Bing Crosby to finish off the year with two also boasts four Canadian champions, includ- Sistercharlie recovered quickly and stormedgrade 1s, including the Breeders Cup, said ing Horse of the Year Up With the Birds; ahome with a late rally to edge Wild IllusionMiller. It just shows what kind of talent and Mexican Horse of the Year; and an importedby a neck. The race earned Sistercharlie aheart he has.champion in Puerto Rico.career-high Equibase Speed Figure of 116.7309_EclipseAwards_use.indd 73 3/21/19 2:56 PM'