STORM’S WAKE PREVAILS BY A NOSE IN OLD DOMINION OAKS

NEW KENT, Va. (Sept. 7, 2026) — William Werner’s homebred Storm’s Wake answered the distance question in dramatic fashion Monday at Colonial Downs, prevailing by a nose over seven 3-year-old filly rivals in the $250,000 Old Dominion Oaks and earning her first victory at 1 1/8 miles.

Trained by Brian Lynch and ridden by Samuel Marin, Storm’s Wake settled in fourth as Fond of You established tepid opening fractions of :25.14 and :49.85. Soloist tracked from the inside while Storm’s Wake remained positioned outside before beginning a three-wide advance through the far turn.

As the field straightened for home, Soloist darted through along the rail while Storm’s Wake continued her run on the outside. The two fillies flanked Fond of You before surging past the leader inside the final furlong, then battled stride-for-stride to the wire with Storm’s Wake getting her nose down in front. Siouxse closed late to finish third.

“I was happy with how she was acting in the gates, so I decided I wanted her to be up close,” Marin said. “I thought the pace might be slow and I didn’t want to give her too much to do. She was doing it by herself and I was confident she won, but it was a very tight finish.”

The victory marked the second stakes win of the season for the daughter of Oscar Performance, who captured the Grade 2 Appalachian at Keeneland in April. Lynch had identified the Old Dominion Oaks as an important test of whether Storm’s Wake could handle 1 1/8 miles ahead of a possible return to Keeneland for the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup.

Storm’s Wake improved her career record to 11-4-1-2 with earnings of $718,825. Storm’s Wake completed 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:48.60 and returned $3.40, $2.60 and $2.10.