July 11, 2008... Storm Tempo holds second and is claimed.

Storm Tempo made his fifth start for That’s Amore on July 11 at Monmouth, and for the third time, he finished in the money, this time grabbing second place.

Stormy broke well and settled into second place, a couple of lengths off BL’s Shocker.  He moved outside of that one around the turn and made a bid, closing to within a head as the field straightened out for the drive.  BL’s Shocker, however, had another gear and pulled away to win easily.  Stormy had just enough to hold onto second place.  He was claimed from the race for $5,000.

Storm Tempo, a three year-old gelding, posted one win, one second, and one third from five starts for That’s Amore.  Thanks, Stormy!

July 10, 2008... Meet Sweet Yamila!

That’s Amore Stable, LLC, today claimed a four year-old filly named Sweet Yamila from the fifth race at Monmouth, for $14,000.  The chestnut daughter of Quaker Ridge, out of Waltzing Maid, by If This Be So, was a flashy-looking eight length winner under Erick Lopez.  She tracked the early pace in third, moved three wide around the turn, and drew off under a hand ride, punctuated by just one tap of the stick.  She covered six furlongs in a sharp 1:10.20.

July 5, 2008... Abbicadabra comes in third and is claimed.

Veteran Abbicadabra carried the That’s Amore colors one last time on Saturday, July 5 at Monmouth, and, as she’d done in virtually every start, she gave a good effort and finished with a solid third place.  Under jockey Jose Lezcano, she went off as the 2.90-1 third choice in the field of five.

Abbi achieved a good stalking position early on, just a couple of lengths off a three-way pace duel.  She gradually passed two of the three but could not get to Sheer Silk, who went on to win by a couple of lengths.  College Girl, running out of the back, got up for second.  Abbi was a shade over four lengths behind the winner.

Abbi was claimed out of the race for $7,500.  In her nearly 10 months at That’s Amore, Abbicadabra was in the money in eight of 10 starts -- a gaudy 80 percent -- with two wins, a second, and five thirds.  Thanks, Abbi!

June 28, 2008... Storm Tempo overcomes nightmare journey to win!

Stretching out to one mile after a couple of tries at three-quarters, Storm Tempo was sent off as the 6-5 favorite in a field of six $5,000 claimers with jockey Jose Lezcano aboard at Monmouth Park.

Punters couldn’t have been too happy, however, after the three year-old spun himself six wide on the first turn, nearly bolted, and repeatedly threw his head around in an effort to shake loose from his jockey’s control.  Add to that his being four wide on the last turn, and the recipe for failure was in place.  But, under patient handling, Stormy proved too strong for his rivals, cruising up four wide to win by 1 3/4 lengths.  “A trip like that,” said trainer Ferris Allen, “is supposed to get you beat.”  Good thing no one told Stormy, who won for the third time in his brief career.