By Elaine Belval
Up With the Birds, the reigning Canadian Horse of the Year, won the G2 Nijinsky II S. at Woodbine on July 19 for owner-breeder Sam-Son Farm and trainer Malcolm Pierce for his seventh win in 12 starts and $1,286,409 in earnings. Last year, the colt won the G1 Jamaica at Belmont Park. Both races were at nine furlongs on turf, the preferred distance and surface for Up With the Birds, who is the seventh SW for his sire Stormy Atlantic this year and the third graded SW. He is also the third SW that Stormy Atlantic has had at Woodbine this year. The stallion already has two two-year-old SWs at Woodbine in 2014, the filly Unhindered (winner of the My Dear S.) and the colt Conquest Tsunami, winner of the Listed Colin S. on Saturday July 26. The Mark Casse-trained two-year-old colt is now undefeated in three starts for Conquest Stables LLC. And Stormy Atlantic has two additional graded stakes-placed runners at Woodbine in 2014. Certainly, the stallion’s offspring perform well at the Canadian oval that features an all-weather surface surrounded by a turf course.
Stormy Atlantic worked his way up the stallion ranks, starting for a modest $5,000 fee when he retired to stud. He’d won six of 15 starts, including two listed sprints, but earned less than $150,000. He made only one start each at two and three and didn’t win until age four, but as a son of preeminent sire of sires Storm Cat and the Seattle Slew G1 winner Hail Atlantis (tracing to the elite mare Rough Shod II), he warranted a chance at stud and he quickly proved his mettle.
His first crop numbered less than 50 foals, but contained five SWs, including GSWs Gators N Bears and Atlantic Ocean. His second crop of 80 foals contained six SWs, including Icy Atlantic and Twice as Bad. There has been no looking back for Stormy Atlantic.
Stormy Atlantic’s progeny’s affinity for Woodbine appeared early. He has sired the Canadian Champions Leonnatus Anteas and Martimer along with Up With The Birds. Stormy Atlantic sires versatile offspring, Â and he has ranked in the top 15 on the General Sire List, the Juvenile Sire List, and the Turf Sire List.
Stormy Atlantic stood the 2014 season for $30,000 at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm.