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."
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.