Home-court advantage can be a powerful thing when championships are on the line. In the Nov. 4 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, it helped push a couple of hometown boys right over the top.
Home-court advantage can be a powerful thing when championships are on the line. In the Nov. 4 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, it helped push a couple of hometown boys right over the top.
Trainer Peter Miller and owner Rockingham Ranch celebrated their first Breeders’ Cup victories in storybook fashion Saturday when 30.20-1 longshot Stormy Liberal led a 1-2 sweep for his connections, getting his head down over stablemate Richard’s Boy in the $1 million Turf Sprint as heavily favored Lady Aurelia finished 10th.
The double-trouble geldings may have produced a stunning result for the Del Mar crowd, but their efforts were fitting given Miller’s local ties. The veteran conditioner lives about 10 minutes from the seaside venue and the fact his charges could run out of their own stalls was a big catalyst behind the decision to give the pair a chance in the five-furlong race.
“I thought we had home court advantage and they ran to that,” Miller said. “I couldn’t be prouder of these horses. They’re just two gutsy, tough, hard-knocking horses.
“I’m just elated to win a Breeders’ Cup at home.”—Alicia Wincze Hughes