STORMIN BUNNY A BARGAIN BUY FOR RIVERA AND WONG
Owner Dennis Wong went to the 2016 CTBA Northern California August Sale with modest expectations. He ended up purchasing two yearlings: a Pamplemouse filly that never panned out as a racehorse and a Stormin Fever filly out of the Atticus mare La Lapin. During her racing career, La Lapin ran 2-times and failed to hit the board on both occasions. However, since her retirement from racing in late 2008, La Lapin had produced two runners: an 0 for 5 maiden and 6-time winner La Sorta, who won a minor stake at Fonner Park in Nebraska.
“I said, ‘This is the one,'” said Dennis Wong when describing his initial thought on whether or not to bid on the Stormin Fever filly. “I was very surprised to see that she only went for $1,500 but it was great for me because I was on a limited budget.”
“I had my former trainer Donna Hjort help me check out her confirmation,” continued Wong. “I liked her because she was by Stormin Fever and my wife was looking at the Stallion Directory and she thought that Stormin Fever was a good-looking sire. [La Lapin] had dropped a stakes winner, too, so that was appealing.”
Wong named La Lapin’s third filly Stormin Bunny, and within no time, Stormin Bunny was broken in at Efrain Guzman’s ranch in Gilroy, California. Once broken, she was sent to ex-jockey Roberto Gonzalez’s ranch in Brentwood to grow up some more. During her time at both ranches, it was clear that Stormin Bunny had class.
“Everyone that was associated with ‘Bunny said that she had the looks of a good one,” said Wong. “It was exciting to hear.”
Once Stormin Bunny was ready to train at the track in 2017, Wong was ready to give his filly to Donna Hjort. Hjort, however, told Wong that she was going to train at Turf Paradise and Emerald Downs for the foreseeable future. With Wong looking to run his filly in the Bay Area, Hjort recommended he give the filly to Tirso Rivera, an underrated trainer at Golden Gate who Hjort relayed was a solid horseman that was up front with his owners.
And with that, Wong soon gave Rivera a chance to train Stormin Bunny. A couple months went by and, as she prepared for her career debut, Rivera indicated to Wong that he thought Stormin Bunny had talent. He was still reserved in his expectations, nonetheless.
On November 11, 2017, Stormin Bunny made her career debut against a field of seven other 25k maiden claimers. At off-odds of 9-2, the 2-year-old filly sat at the back of the field before producing a strong rally in the final quarter mile, blowing past her rivals late to win the contest by a length and three quarters. Shortly after the maiden breaking score, Stormin Bunny was sent to the farm with an undisclosed, minor setback.
Eight and a half months later, Stormin Bunny made her return to the races in an August 25 allowance race against older fillies and mares. Stormin Bunny raced in midfield early on before having to steady twice during the race. She was still able to make up ground on a number of experienced, older fillies and mares, however, and completed the trifecta. The third place finish left Wong and Rivera impressed.
Stormin Bunny improved after the loss, which so far is the only defeat on her near-perfect resume. ‘Bunny has won two additional races since August: a starter allowance in September and, most recently, an allowance race last Thursday. When asked about future plans for Stormin Bunny, Wong gave a matter-of-fact answer.
“Tirso [Rivera] is very patient with his horses so we will probably just let her run through her allowance conditions,” said Wong. “You have to get lucky in this business and so far we’ve gotten very lucky. She’s a neat filly. In the barn, she’s really laid back. She loves her carrots and peppermints. She’ll even have some potato chips from time to time.”
Stormin Bunny has won 3 races from 4 starts, with career earnings of $47,352. For Wong, the experience has been one of much satisfaction.
“I’m just fortunate to be along for the ride,” said Wong with a smile. “Hopefully she’ll keep moving forward and improving. Tirso and his wife Beth, who is a big part of the barn and does great work, have done a fantastic job with ‘Bunny.”
TOP BAY AREA SPRINTERS CLASH IN THE OAKLAND STAKES
A strong field of 9 sprinters are entered to compete in this year’s $50,000 Oakland Stakes for 3-year-olds and upward. The Oakland Stakes, a 6-furlong sprint on the Tapeta, is scheduled for Race 7 on the 9-race card and has an approximate post time of 3:45 PM PT.
Leading the cast of characters is Awesome Anywhere, a Jerry Hollendorfer trainee who has won two allowance races at Santa Anita by a combined 10 and a half-lengths since being claimed by Hollendorfer and co-owner George Todaro for $32,000 in September. Frank Alvarado, who rode Tivan to a win in the Golden Nugget Stakes for Hollendorfer last week, also rides this older gelding by Awesome of Course.
Hollendorfer and Todaro also start Annie’s Candy, winner of the Oak Tree Sprint at Pleasanton this summer. Hollendorfer and George Todaro recently purchased the 5-year-old out of an October 28, 40k claiming race last month-a race in which Annie’s Candy won. Abel Cedillo has the call.
Quick and Silver is a 14 time winner on the Golden Gate Tapeta and makes his second start off a four month break for trainer Blaine Wright. The grey son of Dunkirk won the Lost in the Fog Stakes over this track in 2017. Wright also tightens the girth on Mah Gellin, who was last seen finishing second to Annie’s Candy in the aforementioned October 28 claimer.
Manuel Badilla is the third trainer in the race that saddles two runners: allowance winners Midnight Ming and J C’s Nightcap, who draw posts 1 and 2, respectively. Sir Vronski, from the Quinn Howey barn, is a win machine: the 7-year-old gelding has won 21 of 37 lifetime starts, with a strong 10 for 13 record on the Golden Gate Tapeta. Touched By Autistim ships to Golden Gate after a fourth place finish in the two-turn Bulldog Stakes at Fresno while Sunset Dragunn, who finished behind Touch By Autism in his past two starts, makes his first start off a 3 and a half month vacation for trainer Tirso Rivera. Sunset Dragunn returns to a track he loves; all 4-career wins for the Rivera trainee have come over this Tapeta track.
Race 7 on Saturday: 2018 Oakland Stakes (3:45 PM PT)
#1 Midnight Ming: William Antongeorgi/Manny Badilla
#2 J C’s Nightcap: Anne Sanguinetti/Manny Badilla
#3 Annie’s Candy: Abel Cedillo/Jerry Hollendorfer
#4 Sunset Dragunn: Pedro Terrero/Tirso Rivera
#5 Touched by Autism: Julien Couton/Marcia Stortz
#6 Quick and Silver: Juan Hernandez/Blaine Wright
#7 Sir Vronski: Alejandro Gomez/Quinn Howey
#8 Mah Gellin: Catalino Martinez/Blaine Wright
#9 Awesome Anywhere: Frank Alvarado/Jerry Hollendorfer
TIVAN IMPRESSIVE IN GOLDEN NUGGET
Some handicappers and horsemen say that the biggest step up in class is from facing maiden company to competing against proven winners. Tivan, a 2-year-old California bred gelding, made his first start against winners in the $50,000 Golden Nugget Stakes last Sunday and passed the class test with flying colors, sitting off the pace before coming with a ferocious rally down the lane to surge past early pacesetter Tribal War Chant in the final yards. Jerry Hollendorfer conditions the 2-year-old gelding, who was ridden to victory by veteran jockey Frank Alvarado.
“I knew they were going fast in the beginning,” said Alvarado. “This is the kind of horse that you have to let him break and let him settle down. At the three-eighths pole, I had to make up my mind on whether to go inside or outside. When you’re on the best horse, it’s safer to go wide, so that’s what I did. By the three-sixteenths pole, I knew we had it. He exploded [down the stretch] and gave me everything he had.”
Tivan was bred and is currently owned by KMN Racing LLC. With the Golden Nugget win in his pocket, Tivan has won 2 of 2 lifetime starts with career earnings of $60,350. He completed the six furlong Golden Nugget Stakes in 1:09.94.
BEYER SPEED FIGURES
***The Beyer speed figures for last week’s winners***
THURSDAY
Race 1: Winter’s Nest-62
Race 2: It’s Alexus-73
Race 3: Nowhere Man-76
Race 4: Oursensationalgirl-72
Race 5: Stormin Bunny-75
Race 6: Tune to Win-85
Race 7: Heavenly Holiday-44
FRIDAY
Race 1: Bellasario-50
Race 2: Pepper Crown-70
Race 3: Tiz Indy-72
Race 4: Sunrise Journey-81
Race 5: Hill Croome-75
Race 6: Fawree-83
Race 7: Plate Side-80
Race 8: Spirited Guy-42
SATURDAY
Race 1: Baby’s Got Class-57
Race 2: Aalsmeer-82
Race 3: Sarazona Two-43
Race 4: Music Babe-72
Race 5: Happy Issue-67
Race 6: Fantastic Five-58
Race 7: Tivan-74
Race 8: Dutton’s Legend-80
Race 9: Ballerina Headline-55
SUNDAY
Race 1: Macho Gabacho-74
Race 2: Home Run Kitten-82
Race 3: Atticism-72
Race 4:Independent Indy-64
Race 5: Pioneerofthestorm-75
Race 6: Crimson Cloud-69
Race 7: Holdthismiss-78
Race 8: Iz Invincible-78
Race 9: Big Ceas-62
FINISH LINES: We are half way through the fall meet and William Antongeorgi III (with 20 wins at the meet) has a 5-victory lead in the jockey standings over Abel Cedillo (15), Juan Hernandez (14) and Catalino Martinez (14)…Jonathan Wong has shot away in the trainer standings. Wong has made 17 trips to the winner’s circle this meet, 7-better than Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer…Saturday was a pretty great day for veteran rider Frank Alvarado. Not only did the Panamanian jockey win 2 races, including the Golden Nugget Stakes with 2-year-old Tivan, but he also celebrated his 50th birthday…Jockey Francisco Monroy booted home two longshot winners on Saturday, one which helped prompt a $36,000+ carryover in Sunday’s Late Pick 5. In the first race, Monroy was aboard 25-1 first time starter Baby’s Got Class, who upset four other rivals in the maiden event. Five races later, Monroy guided 51-1 longshot Fantastic Five to a neck win in a maiden 20k claimer…2014 San Francisco Mile winner Pepper Crown defeated lower level claimers in Race 2 last Friday. The 8-year-old horse, who is 11 for 53 lifetime with career earnings of $459,073, is owned by Steve Moger and conditioned by his brother, Ed Moger Jr…The Golden Pick Six jackpot carryover has reached $47,993 heading into Thursday’s card…Happy birthday Golden Gate Fields Vice President and General Manager David Duggan, who celebrates his birthday this Sunday…Happy belated birthday to Bay Area Media legend Sam Spear, who recently celebrated a birthday.