Got Stormy looks for clear skies in Wild Applause

by Najja Thompson

Set to make her first start in New York, Got Stormy will headline a field of seven in the fifth running of the $100,000 Wild Applause for 3-year-old fillies on the Widener turf course on Saturday at Belmont Park.

Purchased by owner Gary Barber and transferred to trainer Mark Casse after making her first two starts for trainer Lisa Lewis, Got Stormy broke her maiden in her first start for her new connections on February 25 at Gulfstream Park and followed with a third-place finish in the Sanibel Isabel.

The Get Stormy filly Made her graded stakes debut on May 4 at Churchill Downs in the Grade 3 Edgewood, rallying three-wide from the inside post before finishing fourth. In her most recent start, she bested a field of seven to win the Penn Oaks on June 2 at Parx while recording a field-high 90 Beyer Speed Figure.

"She's a filly that came to us in good order," said Casse. "She's matured in each race and seems to be getting better and better. Her last start she was just powerful. I thought Tyler [Gaffalione] did a great job with her and since then she's continued to be doing well. We feel like the mile distance hits her right between the eyes, so we're looking forward to running on Saturday."

With Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez in the irons, the pair will depart from post 7.

Meet leading trainer Chad Brown will saddle three runners: Brattata for owner Peter Brant, Punked, for e Five Racing Thoroughbreds, and Lady Suebee, for owners Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, the Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables.

Owned by Peter Brant and purchased for $350,000 as a 2-year-old at the Ocala Breeders' Sales' in April, Brattata broke her maiden in her first start this year and fifth overall on February 4 at Gulfstream. In her next start, she finished third in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride and last out ran fifth over a sloppy track in the Grade 3 Soaring Softly, taken off the turf.

Irish-bred Punked, made her North American debut in April at Keeneland, where she ran fourth in an allowance race before returning on May 13 at Belmont to capture an optional claiming race.

Lady Suebee, a daughter of First Defence, will look to win her third consecutive race in the Wild Applause after winning her turf debut last out in an allowance race on May 5 at Belmont.

Brattata will depart from post 2 with Jose Ortiz aboard, Punked from post 3 with Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, and Lady Subee from the rail with Manny Franco.

Trainer Barclay Tagg will enter Ferdinanda for William M. Backer. The Giant's Causeway filly has has two wins from four starts this year with a pair of second-place finishes. Starting her 3-year-old campaign breaking her maiden on January 17 at Gulfstream, she won an optional-claiming race on March 1 at Hallandale before a pair of close seconds getting nosed out of victory in the San Isabel on March 31 and neck finish in an optional-claiming race on May 13.

Rounding out the field is a pair of Main Track Only entrants for StarLadies Racing and trainer Todd Pletcher with Takechargedelilah and Mo Smart.