Stormy Liberal Retired

Stormy Liberal (Stormy Atlantic), the center of controversy since it was announced that he had been taken away from trainer Peter Miller and could possibly run in 2020, has been retired. The announcement was made Wednesday by his owner, David Bernsen. The 7-year-old will be sent to Old Friends in Georgetown, Ky.

After Stormy Liberal finished eighth in this year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, a dispute arose among the owners and trainer Peter Miller over whether or not the horse should be retired. Bernsen subsequently bought out his partner, Gary Hartunian, and had the horse sent to David Scanlon in Ocala. In a statement released Tuesday, Bernsen said that a “nuke scan” revealed an irregularity in the horse's ankles. Further tests were taken and they showed what Bernsen said were problems with both front fetlocks that “present a significant risk for future athletic soundness.” After being given the results of those tests, and being told Stormy Liberal would require six to eight months rest to get over his issues, Bernsen decided to retire the horse.

Bernsen said that the “nuke scan” was part of a two-step process that began with x-rays, scans and blood work, which Bernsen said did not reveal any problems.

Bernsen found himself on the defensive after Miller issued a press release saying that the owners took the horse away from him because they disagreed with his advice that the horse be retired. Bernsen was also concerned about the horse's current form and the possibility that he had some sort of physical problem and said he asked that Stormy Liberal be taken to Rood & Riddle for evaluation after the Breeders' Cup. That inspection did not take place.

Stormy Liberal had two workouts after the Breeders' Cup and, according to Bernsen was entered in a race at Del Mar that did not fill. Bernsen also noted that Stormy Liberal tested positive for Bute in September.

“[I] was told that the trainer (whom I had no contact with since August) planned on running him in a race at Del Mar at the end of November,” Bernsen said in the statement. “I disagreed with that plan and, as a minority partner, I asked for a complete independent vet exam (which never occurred) before any such race, and my partner and I agreed that following any race he would go he would go to Rood & Riddle as I had requested. On November 23, there was another registered work at San Luis Rey Training Center and I was told that he was being entered at Del Mar that weekend. My understanding was that he was entered for several days in a race that did not fill.”

At Old Friends, Stormy Liberal will join a group of retirees that includes a number of champions and winners of Triple Crown races.

“Myself and Gary Hartunian of Rockingham Ranch are immensely grateful to have been able to race such a magnificent horse, and hope his retirement to Old Friends will benefit all retired horses,” Bernsen said.

Stormy Liberal was claimed for $40,000 in 2016 and, for the ownership group of Hartunian and Bernsen, would go on to win the 2017 and 2018 GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. He was named male turf champion in 2018.

He didn't seem like the same horse when returning for his 7-year-old campaign this year. He went 0-for-7 on the season and was never a factor in this year's Breeders' Cup. Bernsen admitted that he was often at odds with Miller and their dispute became public when Miller issued his press release.

Despite a contentious week, Bernsen was pleased that Stormy Liberal has been guaranteed a safe and humane retirement.

“As painful as this was for me and my family, I was able to get the best and most transparent result for Stormy, which is all that I cared about,” Bernsen said in a text message to the TDN.