Stormy Liberal (USA)
April 12, 2012 – Living
Stormy Atlantic (USA) x Vassar (USA), by Royal Academy (USA)
Family 9-b
April 12, 2012 – Living
Stormy Atlantic (USA) x Vassar (USA), by Royal Academy (USA)
Family 9-b
Inbred to the wickedly fast mare Crimson Saint and descended from a speed-oriented female family, Stormy Liberal showed much of the same speed, becoming the second horse to win two editions of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (USA-G1). He also earned an Eclipse Award in the turf male division, a great rarity for a sprinter. After a winless season in 2019, medical evaluation revealed lesions in his front ankles, leading to his retirement.
Race record
36 starts, 12 wins, 10 seconds, 4 thirds, US$2,212,580
2014:
2016:
2017:
2018:
2019:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion turf male (2018)
Assessments
Rated at 117 pounds on the 2018 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 13 pounds below overall highweight Cracksman, 7 pounds below the top sprinter, Roy H., and 6 pounds below the top turf sprinters, Bataash and Trapeze Artist.
As an individual
A bay gelding, Stormy Liberal had extremely powerful hindquarters. He was game and determined in a drive, though he had a tendency to drift in when tiring and also had a tendency to hang alongside rivals instead of passing them to take a clear lead. He won over turf courses rated from firm to yielding.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Stormy Liberal was bred by Dapple Bloodstock and Gryphon Investments. He was purchased for US$100,000 from the 2014 Ocala Breeders’ Sales June sale of 2-year-olds in training by Dennis O’Neill, acting as agent for his brother, trainer Doug O’Neill. Stormy Liberal began his racing career in the silks of Success Racing, with Doug O’Neill as trainer. On October 16, 2016, Stormy Liberal was claimed at Santa Anita for US$40,000 by trainer Peter Miller and became the property of Rockingham Ranch (Gary Hartunian). After the gelding’s win in the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint under Joel Rosario, David Bernsen bought into the horse. In 2018, Drayden Van Dyke rode Stormy Liberal to a repeat win in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. In 2019, following Stormy Liberal’s eighth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint and the development of an increasingly acrimonious relationship with Miller, Bernsen bought out the interest of Rockingham Ranch to become sole owner, then sent Stormy Liberal for medical evaluation to see if he could continue his racing career. The gelding proved to have cartilage damage in both front ankles, and Bernsen made the decision to retire him. Stormy Liberal took up residence in January 2019 at the Old Friends retirement facility near Georgetown, Kentucky.
Pedigree notes
Stormy Liberal is inbred 4x3 to the important broodmare Crimson Saint and 4x4x5 to the great international sire Northern Dancer. He is a half brother to multiple Grade 2 winner Leinster (by Majestic Warrior) and to Grade 3-placed listed winner Shimmering Moment (by Afleet Alex). He is also a half brother to Southern Delicacy (by Tabasco Cat), second dam of 2018 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (USA-G3) winner Remembering Rita.
Stormy Liberal is out of the winner Vassar, whose dam Dixie Fine (by 1983 French champion miler L’Emigrant) won two listed stakes as a 3-year-old. Dixie Fine is a half sister to French listed stakes winner Or Vision (by Irish River), dam of 1993 Prix de la Forêt (FR-G1) winner Dolphin Street (by Bluebird), 1999 E. P. Taylor Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Insight (by Sadler’s Wells), and 1999 Irish Two Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) winner Saffron Walden (by Sadler’s Wells); second dam of multiple German Group 3 winner Matchwinner; and third dam of Australian Group 3 winner Master of Wine. Dixie Fine is also a half sister to listed stakes winner Nijinsky’s Lover (by Nijinsky II), dam of 1999 Bashford Manor Stakes (USA-G2) winner Dance Master (by Gone West) and 1999 San Simeon Handicap (USA-G3) winner Naninja (by Alysheba) and third dam of multiple Argentine Group 1 winner Imperador; to stakes-placed Litani River (by Irish River), dam of 2008 Concorde Stakes (IRE-G3) winner Psalm (by Sadler’s Wells) and Irish listed stakes winner Queen Titi (by Sadler’s Wells) and second dam of 2009 Dewhurst Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Beethoven; and to Braziliz (by Kingmambo), dam of 2007 Swordlestown Stud Sprint Stakes (IRE-G3) winner Brazilian Bride (by Pivotal) and French listed stakes winner Rio Tigre (by Teofilo) and second dam of Hong King Group 2 winner Endowing. In addition, Dixie Fine is a half sister to Mud Wrestling (by Irish River), third dam of Argentine Group 2 winner Rudy Trigger. Finally, Dixie Fine is a half sister to Brigid (by Irish River), dam of 2000 Moyglare Stud Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Sequoyah (by Sadler’s Wells), 2007 Fillies’ Mile Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Listen (by Sadler’s Wells), and Grade 3-placed Irish listed stakes winner Oyster Catcher (by Bluebird); second dam of 2008 Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) and Irish Two Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) winner Henrythenavigator, Japanese Group 2 winner Touching Speech, and Group 3 winners Nausha, Queen Cleopatra, and Zofelle; and third dam of 2013 Irish Two Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) and Breeders’ Cup Turf (USA-G1) winner Magician and Grade/Group 3 winners Apple Betty, Coeur de Beaute, and Francis of Assisi.
Dixie Fine and her siblings were produced from stakes-placed Luv Luvin’ (by Raise a Native). Luv Luvin’ was the only foal of importance produced from Ringing Bells (Bold Lad x Prayer Bell, by Better Self), a half sister to 1969 American champion 2-year-old male Silent Screen (by Prince John). Ringing Bells is also a half sister to Grade 3 winner Belladora (by Stage Door Johnny), second dam of 2001 Mercury Sprint (SAF-G1) winner All Will Be Well and Grade 2 winners Silver Music and Musical Ghost. In addition, Ringing Bells is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Prayer Cap (by Thinking Cap), dam of stakes winners Silent Prayer (by Binary), Prayer Leader (by Scout Leader), and Zonic (by Swaps) and to Vestry (by Needles), dam of stakes winners Vestry’s Best (by Groton) and Straight Needles (by Going Straight). Finally, Ringing Bells is a half sister to Belle Gallante (by Gallant Man), dam of listed stakes winner Boom and Bust (by Mr. Prospector) and second dam of 2013 Carter Handicap (USA-G1) winner Swagger Jack, Grade 2 winner Tap Dance, and Grade 3 winner With Flair.
Books and media
Videos of Stormy Liberal’s wins in the 2017 and 2018 editions of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint can be accessed on his page at the Breeders’ Cup Hall of Champions (https://www.breederscup.com/history-tradition/hall-champions/stormy-liberal-0), as well as videos of some of his other races.
Fun facts
Last updated: March 5, 2022
Race record
36 starts, 12 wins, 10 seconds, 4 thirds, US$2,212,580
2014:
- 2nd Cecil B. DeMille Stakes (USA-G3, 8FT, Del Mar)
2016:
- 2nd San Simeon Stakes (USA-G3, about 6.5FT, Santa Anita)
2017:
- Won Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (USA-G1, 5FT, Del Mar)
- Won Daytona Stakes (USA-G3, about 6.5FT, Santa Anita)
- Won Joe Hernandez Stakes (USA-L, about 6.5FT, Santa Anita)
- Won Siren Lure Stakes (USA, about 6.5FT, Santa Anita)
- Won Clocker's Corner Stakes (USA-R, about 6.5FT, Santa Anita)
2018:
- Won Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (USA-G1, 5.5FT, Churchill Downs)
- Won Eddie D. Stakes (USA-G3, about 6.5FT, Santa Anita)
- Won Green Flash Handicap (USA-L, 5FT, Del Mar)
- 2nd Al Quoz Sprint (UAE-G1, 1200mT, Meydan)
- 2nd Daytona Stakes (USA-G3, about 6.5FT, Santa Anita)
2019:
- 2nd Joe Hernandez Stakes (USA-L, about 6.5FT, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Eddie D. Stakes (USA-G2, about 5FT, SA)
- 3rd Green Flash Handicap (USA-G3, 5FT, Del Mar)
- 3rd Al Quoz Sprint (UAE-G1, 1200mT, Meydan)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion turf male (2018)
Assessments
Rated at 117 pounds on the 2018 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 13 pounds below overall highweight Cracksman, 7 pounds below the top sprinter, Roy H., and 6 pounds below the top turf sprinters, Bataash and Trapeze Artist.
As an individual
A bay gelding, Stormy Liberal had extremely powerful hindquarters. He was game and determined in a drive, though he had a tendency to drift in when tiring and also had a tendency to hang alongside rivals instead of passing them to take a clear lead. He won over turf courses rated from firm to yielding.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Stormy Liberal was bred by Dapple Bloodstock and Gryphon Investments. He was purchased for US$100,000 from the 2014 Ocala Breeders’ Sales June sale of 2-year-olds in training by Dennis O’Neill, acting as agent for his brother, trainer Doug O’Neill. Stormy Liberal began his racing career in the silks of Success Racing, with Doug O’Neill as trainer. On October 16, 2016, Stormy Liberal was claimed at Santa Anita for US$40,000 by trainer Peter Miller and became the property of Rockingham Ranch (Gary Hartunian). After the gelding’s win in the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint under Joel Rosario, David Bernsen bought into the horse. In 2018, Drayden Van Dyke rode Stormy Liberal to a repeat win in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. In 2019, following Stormy Liberal’s eighth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint and the development of an increasingly acrimonious relationship with Miller, Bernsen bought out the interest of Rockingham Ranch to become sole owner, then sent Stormy Liberal for medical evaluation to see if he could continue his racing career. The gelding proved to have cartilage damage in both front ankles, and Bernsen made the decision to retire him. Stormy Liberal took up residence in January 2019 at the Old Friends retirement facility near Georgetown, Kentucky.
Pedigree notes
Stormy Liberal is inbred 4x3 to the important broodmare Crimson Saint and 4x4x5 to the great international sire Northern Dancer. He is a half brother to multiple Grade 2 winner Leinster (by Majestic Warrior) and to Grade 3-placed listed winner Shimmering Moment (by Afleet Alex). He is also a half brother to Southern Delicacy (by Tabasco Cat), second dam of 2018 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (USA-G3) winner Remembering Rita.
Stormy Liberal is out of the winner Vassar, whose dam Dixie Fine (by 1983 French champion miler L’Emigrant) won two listed stakes as a 3-year-old. Dixie Fine is a half sister to French listed stakes winner Or Vision (by Irish River), dam of 1993 Prix de la Forêt (FR-G1) winner Dolphin Street (by Bluebird), 1999 E. P. Taylor Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Insight (by Sadler’s Wells), and 1999 Irish Two Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) winner Saffron Walden (by Sadler’s Wells); second dam of multiple German Group 3 winner Matchwinner; and third dam of Australian Group 3 winner Master of Wine. Dixie Fine is also a half sister to listed stakes winner Nijinsky’s Lover (by Nijinsky II), dam of 1999 Bashford Manor Stakes (USA-G2) winner Dance Master (by Gone West) and 1999 San Simeon Handicap (USA-G3) winner Naninja (by Alysheba) and third dam of multiple Argentine Group 1 winner Imperador; to stakes-placed Litani River (by Irish River), dam of 2008 Concorde Stakes (IRE-G3) winner Psalm (by Sadler’s Wells) and Irish listed stakes winner Queen Titi (by Sadler’s Wells) and second dam of 2009 Dewhurst Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Beethoven; and to Braziliz (by Kingmambo), dam of 2007 Swordlestown Stud Sprint Stakes (IRE-G3) winner Brazilian Bride (by Pivotal) and French listed stakes winner Rio Tigre (by Teofilo) and second dam of Hong King Group 2 winner Endowing. In addition, Dixie Fine is a half sister to Mud Wrestling (by Irish River), third dam of Argentine Group 2 winner Rudy Trigger. Finally, Dixie Fine is a half sister to Brigid (by Irish River), dam of 2000 Moyglare Stud Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Sequoyah (by Sadler’s Wells), 2007 Fillies’ Mile Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Listen (by Sadler’s Wells), and Grade 3-placed Irish listed stakes winner Oyster Catcher (by Bluebird); second dam of 2008 Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) and Irish Two Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) winner Henrythenavigator, Japanese Group 2 winner Touching Speech, and Group 3 winners Nausha, Queen Cleopatra, and Zofelle; and third dam of 2013 Irish Two Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) and Breeders’ Cup Turf (USA-G1) winner Magician and Grade/Group 3 winners Apple Betty, Coeur de Beaute, and Francis of Assisi.
Dixie Fine and her siblings were produced from stakes-placed Luv Luvin’ (by Raise a Native). Luv Luvin’ was the only foal of importance produced from Ringing Bells (Bold Lad x Prayer Bell, by Better Self), a half sister to 1969 American champion 2-year-old male Silent Screen (by Prince John). Ringing Bells is also a half sister to Grade 3 winner Belladora (by Stage Door Johnny), second dam of 2001 Mercury Sprint (SAF-G1) winner All Will Be Well and Grade 2 winners Silver Music and Musical Ghost. In addition, Ringing Bells is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Prayer Cap (by Thinking Cap), dam of stakes winners Silent Prayer (by Binary), Prayer Leader (by Scout Leader), and Zonic (by Swaps) and to Vestry (by Needles), dam of stakes winners Vestry’s Best (by Groton) and Straight Needles (by Going Straight). Finally, Ringing Bells is a half sister to Belle Gallante (by Gallant Man), dam of listed stakes winner Boom and Bust (by Mr. Prospector) and second dam of 2013 Carter Handicap (USA-G1) winner Swagger Jack, Grade 2 winner Tap Dance, and Grade 3 winner With Flair.
Books and media
Videos of Stormy Liberal’s wins in the 2017 and 2018 editions of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint can be accessed on his page at the Breeders’ Cup Hall of Champions (https://www.breederscup.com/history-tradition/hall-champions/stormy-liberal-0), as well as videos of some of his other races.
Fun facts
- Stormy Liberal put his sire Stormy Atlantic into the “Century Club” of stallions having sired 100 or more stakes winners when he took the Clocker’s Corner Stakes at Santa Anita in 2017.
- In the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, Stormy Liberal outfinished stablemate Richard’s Boy by a head. The two would run one-two again in the 2018 Green Flash Handicap, which Stormy Liberal won by a nose.
- Stormy Liberal is the only horse to have won the same Breeders’ Cup event twice over different distances. The Turf Sprint was contested at 5 furlongs at Del Mar in 2017 and at 5.5 furlongs at Churchill Downs in 2018 due to the different configurations of the turf course at the two tracks.
- Stormy Liberal’s win in the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Turf was part of a historic “double-double” for Rockingham Ranch and Peter Miller, who also won their second straight edition of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (USA-G1) with Roy H.
Last updated: March 5, 2022