Name Changer filly Storm Changer upsets NYSS Park Avenue

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Storm Changer and Jose Gomez emerge between rivals to win the Park Avenue division of the New York Stallion Series Sunday at Aqueduct

Peter Kazamias’ homebred Storm Changer, one of 13 foals from the first crop of Name Changer, came between rivals in the lane to upset Sunday’s $200,000 Park Avenue division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes at Aqueduct.

Jose Gomez rode the filly, making her first start for trainer Carlos Martin after previously running for the suspended Dimitrios Synnefias. Dismissed at 12-1 in the field of eight reduced by the scratches of Fedupwiththefed and Lazy Y Legacy, Storm Changer improved to 2-for-5 with the victory.

Storm Changer finished second two starts back in the 7-furlong East View Stakes February 8 at Aqueduct and a distant fifth last time in the 1-mile Maddie May Stakes March 7 at Aqueduct. Martin admitted he didn’t do much to get the filly ready for the 6 ½-furlong Park Avenue.

“Jose, we’ve had some luck together with Patricia Ann and some other horses. He always tries hard for us,” Martin said. “He had worked her the other day, she went an easy half in :49 (April 5 on the Belmont Park training track). She came in great shape from Dimitrios, we didn’t want to re-invent the wheel too much. I thought cutting her back would be pretty good for her.”

Howling Wind hustled to the lead ahead of 9-5 favorite Bam’s Bliss Kiss early and led that foe through the opening quarter in :22.40 over the muddy and sealed surface. Bam’s Bliss Kiss inched up within a half-length of the leader midway around the turn, just ahead of Forever to Go and Decree and Declare through the half in :46.37.

Gomez kept Storm Changer in the clear on the outside in fifth around the bend.

“I wasn’t worried,” Gomez said. “That was the game plan; just save some ground and everything has seemed to be running well in the middle of the racetrack.”

Dylan Davis took another route aboard Disco Star, coming up the inside approaching the stretch and took the lead turning for home. Gomez countered that move on the outside while Eric Cancel did similar Princess Mischief even wider out from the rail.

Storm Changer emerged from the three-way battle for the lead inside the sixteenth pole to win by a half-length over Princess Mischief, who nosed out Disco Star for the runner-up spot. Decree and Declare, Howling Wind, Bam’s Bliss Kiss, Royal Event and Forever to Go completed the field. Storm Changer won in 1:18.39.

“She ran great first time out [to win on debut in November],” Gomez said. “Last time I rode her [two starts back in the East View], it might have been a bit long for her, but Bernieandtherose is a pretty decent horse. After that they gave her to Mr. Martin and from then she’s been a different type of horse. She’s a lot more calm.”

Storm Changer picked up $110,000 to boost her bankroll to $183,750.

Grade 3 winner Name Changer, a 12-year-old son of Uncle Mo out of the Northern Afleet mare Cash’s Girl, stands for $2,500 at Kaz Hill Farm in Middletown. The sire of 29 foals of racing age, including a group of 16 current 2-year-olds, Name Changer finished third on the New York freshman sire list in 2024 thanks to two winners from five starters.

Storm Changer is the sixth foal out of the unraced Stormy Atlantic mare Stormin Sistas, who was purchased in foal to classic winner Palace Malice for $27,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

Stormin Sistas is the dam of seven-time winner Atlantic Princess, three-time winning New York-bred Kaz Palace and the 4-year-old New York-bred Bank Heist filly Stormin Heist. Kaz Hill Farm also bred Storm Changer’s full brother, the 2-year-old Name Changer colt Hurricane Kaz, out of Stormin Sistas.

Endnotes:

[Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/storm-changer-the-nyss.jpg

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2025/04/13/name-changer-filly-storm-changer-upsets-nyss-park-avenue/

King for a Day’s Prince Valiant wires NYSS Times Square

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Prince Valiant skips over the mud en route to victory in Sunday’s NYSS Times Square. Coglianese Photo.

Red Oak Stable’s Prince Valiant kept it simple and maintained his winning ways with a front-running victory in Sunday’s $194,000 Times Square division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes at Aqueduct.

The 3-year-old won his first stakes and also became the second stakes winner for his sire King for a Day, a son of Uncle Mo who stands for $5,000 at Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions LLC in Stillwater. King for a Day’s first stakes winner – Soontobeking, who took the March 8 Gander at Aqueduct – finished second in Sunday’s Times Square.

Dylan Davis rode Prince Valiant for trainer Todd Pletcher, scoring by 3 1/2 lengths in the 6 1/2-furlong restricted stakes.

“He’s a really cool little horse,” said Pletcher’s assistant Stu Hampson. “Both in his works in the mornings and in the afternoons, he just seems to keep progressing and getting a little bit better every time. His last two months, his works have steadily improved, and his efforts in the afternoons have also.

“It’s a pleasure to have a horse like this for Red Oak and it’s nice when what we see in the mornings adds up to good performances in the afternoon.”

Bred by Sugar Maple Farm and the second foal out of the D’Funnybone mare Lizzy’s Fun, Prince Valiant sold to Red Oak Farm for $50,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga fall mixed sale.

Unraced at 2, Prince Valiant finished third in his debut behind eventual stakes winner and Grade 3-placed Sand Devil in early December. He rattled off back-to-back victories by a neck in a January 11 maiden and February 23 allowance-optional before making his stakes debut Sunday.

Sent off the narrow 7-5 second choice behind the 6-5 National Identity, Prince Valiant went to the front from the start and controlled the terms by a length over Soontobeking through the opening quarter in :22.67 over the muddy and sealed track.

“I saw us as main speed. Just didn’t really know about the break,” Davis said. “He broke well with me, was able to get to the lead comfortably and he was doing it well. He drifted out a little bit down the backside, but I was able to straighten him up into the turn, and then he just started getting on.”

Prince Valiant stayed up by 1 1/2 lengths over Soontobeking through the half in :46.28 and turned for home with a widening advantage. Davis stayed busy in the stretch and Prince Valiant opened up by 2 lengths at the eight pole. Soontobeking maintained his spot in second and finished 5 1/2 lengths clear of National Identity. Huggy and In the Chase completed the field. Prince Valiant won in 1:16.73.

“I knew he was a fighter so if anyone were to challenge him late, he’d fight on again for me,” Davis said.

Prince Valiant earned $110,000 for the win to boost his bankroll to $201,500.

“He’s naturally finding himself on the front end of races and he’s doing it that way, but he’s such a fighter,” Hampson said. “Any time a horse eyeballs him, he just wants to put his head back in front. As he’s matured, he’s relaxed a little bit and depending on what we do with him, that could reflect in the afternoons as well. He’s running great, so we’re just trying to stay out of his way.”

Lizzy’s Fun is also the dam of the 3-year-old Tonalist colt Rafa’s Dream, who sold for $57,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale. He made five starts last season in Puerto Rico. She’s also the dam of two other New York-breds – a 2-year-old filly by leading New York sire Central Banker and a filly by Mind Control born February 7.

Endnotes:

[Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/prince-valiant-the-nyss.jpg

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2025/04/13/king-for-a-days-prince-valiant-wires-nyss-times-square/