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2004 NEWS
ICY ATLANTIC IN JERSEY DERBY
TWICE AS BAD WINS
ATLANTIC STORY AT TIMONIUM
GATORS N BEARS AT PIMLICO
PESCI INJURED
PESCI - A STAR IS BORN
PESCI - SUNSHINE MILLIONS
PESCI - THANKSGIVING DAY
ALL HAIL STORMY
CAUGHT IN A PINCH
GATORS N BEARS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
2003 NEWS
Icy Atlantic Crashes Jersey Derby Shore 
Date Posted: 5/31/04 7:34:33PM
Last Updated:5/31/04 7:34:33PM
(from Monmouth Park report)
Arthur I. Appleton's homebred Icy Atlantic rolled to a 1 1/4-length and a quarter victory over Commendation in Monday's $100,00 Jersey Derby (gr. III)T at Monmouth Park.
Icy Atlantic, a son of Stormy Atlantic trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Chuck Lopez, took command in midstretch and held off all challenges to complete the 1 1/16-mile test over a "good" turf course in 1:44 2/5. Commendation had three-quarters of a length over Grand Heritage for the place.
The winner, who was scoring his third straight victory and second in a row on turf, paid $7.40, $3.40 and $2.20 across the board as the lukewarm 5-2 favorite in the field of seven 3-year-olds. He combined with Commendation ($3.80, $2.60), the narrow second choice also at 5-2, for a $30.80 exacta. Grand Heritage was $2.80 to show.
"On the far turn, against my better judgment, I decided to swing him out and go three or four wide," Lopez said. "It's better to be out there and running than stuck on the inside with nowhere to go.
"When he hit the front, he was just cruising. If someone came at him, I'm sure he would have hit the afterburners and took off again."
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Twice as Bad Better Than Rest in Barrera
by Jack Shinar
Date Posted: 5/29/2004 9:04:48 PM
Last Updated: 5/29/2004 9:19:08 PM
Mercedes Stable's Twice as Bad, stakes-placed in Florida but on the sidelines since December, showed no effect from the layoff with a three-length win in the $150,000 Lazaro Barrera Memorial (gr. II) for 3-year-olds at Hollywood Park Saturday.
Ridden by Alex Solis, subbing for the injured Corey Nakatani, Twice as Bad, a gray Florida-bred colt by Stormy Atlantic–Two Bad Girls (by Diablo), made his first start for trainer Vladimir Cerin.
Twice as Bad, a slight 2-1 favorite in the field of eight, forced the pace while three wide, gained the lead midway on the turn and pulled clear while angling in under a brisk hand ride through the stretch. The winning time was 1:21 2/5.
"He's an awesome colt. This was supposed to be our Derby horse," Cerin said.
"I just want to thank him (owner Ernie Moody) for being patient. We buy a horse, he gets off the plane and he's just so sick he wants to die. And I never heard a peep from Mr. Moody or Mercedes (Stable). But he seems to have recovered. And they had faith the whole time.
"Smarty Jones was lucky this horse wasn't fit two months ago," he laughed.
Cerin said he would probably stretch the colt out for his next start.
"He's always given me the indication that he'll go 1 1/2 miles," he said. "And if he can carry this speed, and it's not crazy speed, he sits just off the pace and then he goes. So he looks a little longer, a little better."
Nakatani aggravated a back injury earlier in the day.
"I'm glad I didn't go home early today," said Solis, who was scheduled to ride Siphonizer, the pre-race favorite scratched by Richard Mandella due to a fever. "Wow, this is a very special horse.
"At the three-eighths pole, this horse was dragging me. I really wasn't moving on him, and I just hand rode him down the stretch. He was moving so easy at the quarter pole and I had so much horse, I knew that if somebody was going to come running, they were going to have to fly."
Previously trained by Manuel Wayar, Twice as Bad was a busy 2-year-old in Florida, racing 12 times. His efforts there included second-place finishes in both the Bird on the Wire and What A Pleasure stakes at Calder Race Course. He now sports a 3-3-1 record in 13 starts with lifetime earnings of $196, 280.
Linda S. Rosenblatt bred Twice as Bad, who was sold for $15,000 as a yearling at Ocala in August 2002.
The winner paid $6.20, $4.20 and $2.80. Wimplestiltskin returned $6 and $3. Don'tsellmeshort was $2.60 to show. Copyright © 2004 The Blood-Horse, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Atlantic Story at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale
In his first trip to the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May two-year-olds in training sale, agent John Ferguson did not take long to make an impact.
About midway through the first day of the two-day sale on Monday in Timonium, Maryland, the principal buyer for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum purchased a son of Stormy Atlantic named Atlantic Story for $300,000. Jimmy Bell signed the ticket for the Florida-bred colt, who was consigned by Bridlewood Farm.
"Mr. Ferguson was in this morning and he was able to go through all the horses that we had to look at. This horse is similar to the type of horse we’ve been buying," Bell said. "He’s fluid on the racetrack with a lot of room for improvement."
Atlantic Story is the second foal out of the Siberian Express mare Story Book Girl.—John P. Sparkman
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GATORS N BEARS WINS
Gators N Bears, who was bred by Bobby Camac, the late trainer who planned the mating that produced Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Smarty Jones, scored on Saturday in the $186,000 Maryland Breeders’ Cup Handicap (G3), one race before Smarty Jones aimed for the second leg of the Triple Crown in the $1-million Preakness Stakes (G1).
Owned and trained by Leo Nechamkin II, Gators N Bears drove up the rail from just off the pace to grab control near the eighth pole and inch away to a 1¼-length victory under jockey C.C. Lopez, completing six furlongs in 1:10.84 over a fast track.
"He laid off the pace and it went just like I told the rider the race would go," Nechamkin said. "The speed was not holding up. I told him a hole would open—go for it. And he did."
Gators N Bears notched his third career stakes victory. He won the 2003 Jersey Breeders’ Cup Handicap (G3) at Monmouth Park. Bred in New Jersey, Gators N Bears has nine victories in 21 career starts and has earned $496,280.
Gators N Bears entered off two straight runner-up finishes to Well Fancied, on March 13 in the Toboggan Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct and on February 16 in the General George Handicap (G2) at Laurel Park.
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Pesci injured in Sunshine Millions Distaff
Pesci, the bay filly named for her Academy Award-winning coowner, Joe Pesci, is in danger of losing her right eye after being hit by a rock or clod of dirt during her ninthplace effort in the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sunshine Millions Distaff Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
The four-year-old daughter of Stormy Atlantic emerged from the race with her eye swollen, infected, and clouded over, according to trainer and co-owner Wesley Ward. “The vets are treating it aggressively with antibiotics and she’s got a patch over it,” Ward said. “Watching the race, we were in amazement because she stopped so suddenly, but then we got to her and it was pretty clear her eye was the reason for it. You can’t race if you can’t see.”
Owned by a partnership that includes Ward, Joe Pesci, and Mark
Giordano, Pesci had won her first two career starts heading into Saturday’s race. “I always say people show their true character in defeat,” Ward said. “We were kind of bewildered yesterday, but now that we know about the eye it explains things.”
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A STAR IS BORN
UNDEFEATED THREE-YEAR-OLD PESCI, BY STORMY ATLANTIC,
ROMPS BY 5 AT SANTA ANITA ON DECEMBER 28TH, MAINTAINING HER PERFECT RECORD. THIS VICTORY FOLLOWS AN IMPRESSIVE 8 1/2 LENGTH WIN AT HOLLYWOOD PARK IN LATE NOVEMBER. HER NEXT STOP...THE SUNSHINE MILLIONS.
“It looks like Pesci could be a star in the making. The daughter of Stormy Atlantic, racing for a partnership that includes actor Joe Pesci and trainer Wesley Ward, won again on Dec. 28, this time by five lengths going 1 1/16 miles.”
- THE BLOODHORSE / JANUARY 3, 2004
Pesci (f, 3, Stormy Atlantic--Tricky Sacrifice, by Pleasant Colony),
a $140,000 OBSAPR juvenile, has made it two for two - winning off easily by 5 lengths in her second start for her Oscar winning owner.
Pesci, is beginning to attract a following of her own. She won the second race of her short career Sunday at Santa Anita, topping a $60,368 allowance optional claiming field by five lengths.
The daughter of Stormy Atlantic, also owned by Wesley Ward, who trains her, won her maiden special weight debut Nov. 27 at Hollywood Park by 8 1/2 lengths after a half in 44 and change,
Pesci was the 13-10 favorite in a field of seven fillies and mares and completed the 1 1/16-mile event in 1:43 1/5 with Mike Smith in the irons. Smith was also aboard for the first start.
Pesci, the owner, won an Oscar for a supporting role in the 1990 movie, "Goodfellas," and has been a lifelong horseracing fan. This is his first ownership interest.
The filly was greeted in the winner's circle by a huge contingent that included Pesci and dozens of friends.
Breaking from the rail, Pesci pulled early before settling down and easing toward the outside. Down the backstretch, she moved up to engage the pacesetter The Candy Queen on the final turn. Pesci took over at the quarter pole and drew away without urging.
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Gentle Giant Pesci to start in the Sunshine Millions Distaff 
Unlike her diminutive owner and namesake, Pesci is a gentle giant of a filly, and, according to her trainer Wesley Ward, is ready to come up big when she races in Saturday's $500,000 Sunshine Millions Ocala Breeders' Sales Distaff.
Owned by Ward, actor Joe Pesci, and Mark Giordano, the Stormy Atlantic filly is 2-for-2 on her career despite issues that made those wins somewhat surprising to Ward.
"She was a little short [on training], I thought, going into her first race but she still won it by eight lengths," said Ward. "Her second race she was going around two turns for the first time and fighting a skin rash and she still won that one by five. This time is the first time where everything is 100% so I'm looking for a big race."
Pesci will be competing against a tough field of seasoned fillies and mares in the Distaff, but that doesn't damage Ward's confidence.
"She's only got two races because of some minor setbacks," said Ward. "Most of them have come because she's just so big and blessed with talent that she makes everything look so easy. She'll go out there and work and it will look like she'll breeze in around a minute, then you look down at the stopwatch and it says 54. She could go 43 seconds and we wouldn't even have to ask her, but she's just such a big horse that she ran into some problems that we had to back off her."
Joe Pesci is expected to bring an entourage to the track Saturday to watch his filly run, with actor Robert DeNiro expected to be among them. While Mr. Pesci is famous for his terrier-like tough-guy roles, his filly is anything but.
"She's just a gentle giant," said Ward. "A train could go by right in front of her and she wouldn't even look at it sideways. She does everything nice and easy."
Ward indicated the filly would breeze Wednesday or Thursday at Palm Meadows and head to Gulfstream Friday night.
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Pesci is a star on Thanksgiving Day at Hollywood Park
Courtesy of the Blood Horse
Pesci had the lead role Thanksgiving Day at Hollywood Park. That is Pesci, the 3-year-old filly namesake of the Oscar Award-winning actor, Joe Pesci. Pesci, making her first start, cruised to an 8 1/2-length victory in the second race Thursday, leaving the actor in a jovial mood.
"What can I say, I'm stuffed," a beaming Pesci said.
Pesci, who won an Oscar for a supporting role in the 1990 move "Goodfellas," has been a lifelong horseracing fan. While the four-legged Pesci represents his first foray into the Thoroughbred ownership ranks, the actor is no stranger to the mutuel windows.
"As a kid, I went to Monmouth in New Jersey," Pesci said. "I used to go almost every day. I just love handicapping, watching them. When I was a kid I rode horses a lot, I just loved it.
"We watched her run in the morning and she's so calm, so big, we were pretty confident," he added.
Pesci, ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, broke well and dueled briefly with Royal Obsession down the backstretch before pulling away to win as she pleased, covering six furlongs in 1:09.59. She paid $3, $2.10 and $2.10.
"I'm real happy the filly ran as well as she does in the morning," trainer and co-owner Wesley Ward said. "So hopefully, being out a Pleasant Colony mare, she goes on to do things around two turns. We're looking for big things from her."
The Chart reads: PESCI had good early speed and dueled outside a rival, kicked clear and angled in on the turn, drew off in the stretch while mildly hand ridden for several strides and was under a hold late.
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ALL HAIL STORMY named Throroughbred Times NOTABLE WINNER
ALL HAIL STORMY, B. c. 00, Hail a Princess, by Hail the Ruckus broke his maiden in his third start at Gulfstream Park, winning by by 5.
All Hail Stormy, a $210,000 purchase at the 2003 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s selected two-year-olds in training sale, opened a clear lead through a half-mile in :44.62 and cruised home to an easy victory in his 2004 debut.
With Ramon Dominguez guiding him, All Hail Stormy pressed early leader Gainango through a quarter-mile in :21.89 before taking the lead in the turn and drawing off. All Hail Stormy closed out last season with a third-place finish in a maiden race on November 15 at Aqueduct.
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CAUGHT IN A PINCH
CAUGHT IN A PINCH, B. f. 2, Pinch, by Regal Search. Caught in a Pinch showed early speed inside while dueling with Highgate Park through a half-mile, took the lead as the field approached the stretch under jockey Jerry Bailey, and dug in for a 21/2-length victory in her first career start.The two-year-old bay filly, owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, is the first starter out of the winning Regal Search mare Pinch.h
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Fireworks for GATORS N BEARS
This 3 year old colt came back from a strong allowance win to capture his first graded stakes race in the Jersey Shore BC Stakes (G3). After setting the pace with fractions of :21 4/5 and :44 1/5 GATORS N BEARS held off MT. Carson 8 lengths ahead of the rest of the field. He stopped the clock for 6 furlongs in 1:09 and change, .He had been knocking on the stakes door with a good second in the Hirsh Jacobs for his owner Leo S. Nechamkin.8He is on a roll, GATORS N BEARS captures the Rumson at Monmouth in 1:08 and change quietly on his way to the top of the east coast sprinters.On 10/18- GATORS N BEARS won the Sonny HIne at Laurel. In 15 starts this colt has only been off the board twice.He set fractions of :21 4/5, :44 2/5, :56 2/5, and 1:08 4/5.
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ATLANTIC OCEAN - "We may have underpaid for her".
After her convincing win in the Sunshine Million Oaks on Janary 25th, Atlantic Ocean silenced her critics and prompted Richard Mulhall, racing manager for The Thoroughbred Corp who campaigns Atlantic Ocean, to say "We knew what we were doing when we paid $1.9 million for her. We may have underpaid for her." Bringing her race record to 5 wins in 11 starts and total earnings in excess of $500,000, Atlantic Ocean now has 3 stakes victories, including the Miesque (gr. IIIT) and the Santa Ysabel (gr. III) and a second in the Fairgrounds Oaks (G2)..
Atlantic Ocean brought a record price for a juvenile filly sold at public auction when The Thoroughbred Corp. bought her last March for $1.9-million from Chapman Farms at the 2002 Barretts Equine Ltd. March selected two-year-olds in training sale. “She’s such a big filly and such an athlete [that] I think if we’re patient with her, she’ll get better and better,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “She’s showing her price tag, now.” Atlantic Oceans sire, Stormy Atlantic, a stakes winning son of Storm Cat, entered Stud at Hill 'n' Dale Farm in 2003 and is being tremendously received by the breeders.
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2004 NEWS
12/27 - ALL HAIL STORMY won the Mint Stakes at Calder. The 3-year-old colt out of Hail A Princess now has 5 wins and $173,031; on the board in 11 of 15 starts.
10/9 - BOLD PASSAGE a 2-year-old filly by Stormy Atlantic won the John W Galbreath Stakes by 2 3/4 lengths at Thistledowns.
7/18 - ICY ATLANTIC 2nd in G3 Lexington S.
6/19 - GATORS N BEARS wins the James B. Mosleley Breeders Cup H by 4 1/2 lengths. This was his 10th win with updated earnings of $616,280.
TWICE AS BAD runs 2nd in the G3 Affirmed H at Hollywood.
5/31 - ICY ATLANTIC Crashes Jersey Derby Shore
Arthur I. Appleton's homebred Icy Atlantic rolled to a 1 1/4-length and a quarter victory over Commendation in Monday's $100,00 Jersey Derby (gr. III)T at Monmouth Park. more
5/29 - TWICE AS BAD better than rest in Barrera more
5/17 - Atlantic Story adds lucrative chapter to Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale more
5/15 - Gators N Bears scored on Saturday in the $186,000 Maryland Breeders’ Cup Handicap (G3). more
4/4 - PESCI (Stormy Atlantic) runs 3rd in the Santa Lucia H.
3/13 - GATORS N BEARS (Stormy Atlantic) ran second in the [G3] Toboggan H. at Aqueduct.
3/8 - NAH NAH NAH (Stormy Atlantic) wins an allowance race at PHA.
2/16 - GATORS N BEARS ran a strong third in the GENERAL GEORGE H. (G2) at Laurel.
2/14 - Icy Atlantic (out of Frosty Promise, by Frosty the Snowman) was a Thoroughbred Times NOTABLE MAIDEN WINNER at Aqueduct winning off by almost 2 lengths in his fourth start.
1/25- Pesci injured in Sunshine Millions Distaff more
1/24 - GATORS N BEARS held the banner high for his sire, hanging on with tenacity to win the Hoover S. at Laurel.
1/3 - All Hail Stormy won his 3rd start by 5 in 1:09.93 after a first quarter fraction of 21 and change.
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2003 NEWS
12/28 - Pesci was greeted in the winners circle by stars as she remained undefeated in two career starts.
12/21- GATORS N BEARS sprints to a 3rd in the Gravesend (G3) and pushed his earnings over $300,000.
12/13 - Twice as Bad, c. 2, Stormy Atlantic—Two Bad Girls, by Diablo.
runs second in the What a Pleasure S. for owner Tzipora Stable, Inc
11/27 - Pesci - a star on Thanksgiving Day at Hollywood Park winning debut by 8 3/4 in 1:09 and change.
11/15 - GATORS N BEARS added a placing in the G1 Frank De Francis Memorial Dash to his resume. Earlier he had won both the Sonny Hine at Laurel , the Rumson and the Jersey SHore (G3) at Monmouth. In 15 starts this colt has only been off the board twice. He commonly set fractions like of :21 4/5, :44 2/5, :56 2/5, and 1:08 4/5.
10/11- Ride Her Out ran back to be second in the FLORIDA STALLION MY DEAR GIRL S. while Twice as Bad, a new 2 yr old stakes horse for Stormy Atlantic ran 2nd in the Birdonthewire S.
9/20 - 2 yr. old filly Ride Her Out won, but was placed second in the Brave Raj at Calder after drifting out just before the wire.
9/7 - STORMY ATLANTIC gets his 10th 2yr old winner as NEW STORM, wins by 4 at Calder.
9/3 - STORMY ATLANTIC gets his 9th 2yr old winner as YESTERDAY'S PAST , wins in Puerto Rico.
8/3- Two year old filly, Caught In A Pinch won her first start at Saratoga by 2 1/2. Stormy Atlantic
8/2- ATLANTIC OCEAN ran 2nd in the G2- San Clemnte H. at Del Mar.
7/9 - 2 yr old BEAT THE TRAFFIC, c. 2 out if Chandelle by Crafty Prospector. won his debut at Suffolk Down by 7 1/4.
7/4 - Fireworks for Stormy Atlantic GATORS N BEARS wins the Jersey Shore (G3) becoming a new graded SW for his sire. The next day ATLANTIC OCEAN ran 3rd in the American Oaks at Hollywood Park.
6/7 - ATLANTIC OCEAN ran 2nd in the G2- Honeymon Beach at Hollywood, losing by a neck. She raised her earnings to $552,210
5/25 - Jimmie O. 3rd in the G2- Laz Barrera Memorial at Hollywood Park.
5/17 - Gators N Bears, c. 3, ran 2nd in the Hirsh Jacobs on Preakness Day. Earlier he missed by a neck in the $50,000 Horatius at Laurel.
Two year olds sell for $210,000 and $180,000 at Barretts and Calder.
4/23- Jimmy O ran second in the Harry Henson at Hollywoood Park.
3/8 - ATLANTIC OCEAN second in the Fairground Oaks (G2). She has now bankrolled over $500,000.
2/22 - ATLANTIC OCEAN (Stormy Atlantic) worked 7 furlongs in company at Santa Anita Park, going in 1:25.80. Atlantic Ocean is currently riding a three-race win streak, including a victory in the Sunshine Millions Oaks on January 25. Her earnings stand at $438,820
2/8 - Gators N Bears, c. 3 ran third in the $50,000 Miracle Wood at Laurel and improved his earnings to $66,036 for his owner and improving his record to 6-3-1-1.
2/10 - Jimmie O. stakes placed for the second time in 2003 in the Harry Henson at Hollywoood. His earnings now stand over $125,000.3/22 - Gators N Bears ran a strong second in the Horatius at Laurel and has current earnings of $76,030. His record stands at 7-3-2-1.
2/8 - Gators N Bears, c. 3 Stormy Atlantic —I’ll Be Along, by Notebook.ran third in the $50,000 Miracle Wood at Laurel and improved his earnings to $66,036 for his owner Leo S. Nechamkin. He improved his record to 6-3-1-1.
1/25 - Tidal Wave, c. 3, ran third in the Collegian at Suffolk Downs and increased his earnings to $33,750 and his record to 6-1-2-3
1/12 - Jimmy O, c. 3, ran third in the $107,800 G3- San Miguel (3yo) at Santa Anita and has current earnings of $116,984 with a record of 12-3-2-4
