Distance Works Well for Stormello

A stretch to two turns was the ticket to success for Stormello.

Third in a pair of graded sprint stakes at Del Mar behind Principle Secret and Horse Greeley, the two favorites in the $247,000 Norfolk Breeders’ Cup on Sunday, Stormello turned the tables on both with an 8-1 upset in the Grade II stakes race at Santa Anita.

Trained by Bill Currin, who also owns and bred the 2-year-old Stormy Atlantic colt with Al Eisman, Stormello tracked the quick pace set by Principle Secret, engaged the leader in the stretch and won by a neck, his second victory in five starts. The final time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:43.10. Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, who at Currin’s request returned from New York strictly for the Norfolk, Stormello almost certainly earned a trip to Kentucky for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs.

“It made 100% difference bringing in Kent,” said Currin. “I always fly in a Hall of Fame rider when I need him. He’s the greatest rider in the world. This colt will run all day. He’s got speed, he’s got stamina, he’s got guts and he’s happy and healthy.”

Desormeaux was as confident as Currin that Stormello would appreciate the extra distance on Sunday.

“I told Mr. Currin that he was going faster under the wire than he was at the start of the race,” Desormeaux said of finishing third in the Del Mar Futurity. “I knew he would love two turns. He showed a lot of determination and heart today.”

Making his first start since he remained unbeaten with an easy win in the Best Pal on Aug. 13, Principle Secret ran well despite the loss. The 9-5 second choice set a pressured and fast pace -- 22.56 and 45.89 for the first half mile -- tried to resist the winner, but couldn’t quite do so while finishing 6 1/2 lengths clear of third-place finisher Spot The Diplomat.

Horse Greeley, the 13-10 favorite after his win in the Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 6, finished seventh during a nightmare trip. The son of Mr. Greeley was a bit fractious in the gate, was bumped shortly after the start, then inexplicably went extremely wide on the first turn.

“He came out of the gate and got bumped quite a few times,” said Victor Espinoza of Horse Greeley. “Going into the turn, I took hold of him and he did not like it. He got out with me. It was his first time around two turns and he’s learning. He’s a very good horse. It was just one of those races.”

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Asi Siempre, a 9-2 shot who had made all 14 of her previous starts on the grass, enjoyed her first experience with Polytrack, easily winning the Grade I $500,000 Spinster on Sunday at Keeneland.

A five-time winner on turf, the 4-year-old El Prado filly won while being geared down late by jockey Julien Leparoux, running the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.97.

Owned by Martin Schwartz and trained by Patrick Biancone, Asi Siempre probably earned herself a start in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs.

Her only stakes win in the U.S. before Sunday was in the Grade III Valley View last Oct. 21 on the Keeneland turf.

Soul Search, an 18-1 shot, was second and Promenade Girl, also 18-1, finished third. Happy Ticket, the 9-5 favorite, finished a troubled sixth. It was only the second time in her 19 races that the Louisiana-bred mare had been worse than second.

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bob.mieszerski@latimes.com