by Frank Angst @BH_FAngst

Gormley made his stakes debut a winning effort, scoring a three-length, front-running win in the $300,000 FrontRunner Stakes (gr. I) Oct. 1 at Santa Anita Park.

Trained by John Shirreffs for owners Jerry and Ann Moss, Gormley broke well from the rail under Victor Espinoza and cruised through a quarter-mile in :23.72 and a half-mile in :47.18. The son of Malibu Moon  opened a big advantage in the far turn, extending that advantage to 3 1/2 lengths in the stretch, and was not seriously threatened by 1-5 favorite and last-out Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) winner Klimt, who rallied for second. Straight Fire came in another 4 1/2 lengths back in third.

Gormley improved to two-for-two, completing 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.57. He returned $23.60 to win, $5 to place, and $3 to show while Klimt paid $2.20 and $2.10. Straight Fire paid $2.20 to show.

Gormley won his maiden special weight debut going 6 1/2 furlongs Sept. 4 at Del Mar and easily made the jump to grade I winner.

"You know, it's always a surprise as you train in the morning and you hope they can improve in the afternoon. You don't ever know until the afternoon," Shirreffs said. "After you've won your first race you settle in and you just move on. He's a young horse, he's learning. He needs to focus a little bit and once he gets focused he's got it handled."

Espinoza, who secured his fourth FrontRunner victory, said he didn't necessarily plan to go to the lead with Gormley.

"I originally wanted to take back a little bit and let him run in the end ... I was on the rail and didn't want to take him back then, so I let him run," Espinoza said. "This horse can run well wherever he runs. He's a very talented young horse and he's going to improve for the future." 

Gormley punches his ticket to the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) as the FrontRunner is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" race. The winners of the 2014 and 2015 FrontRunner, American Pharoah   (under Espinoza) and Nyquist, went on to win the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Bred in Kentucky by Castleton Lyons and Kilboy Estate, Gormley is the first starter out of the stakes-winning Bernstein mare Race to Urga.

Bob Baffert, trainer of Klimt, said the son of Quality Road   made a nice rally but was probably too far back early.

"That gave him a lot to do. He just didn't fire away from the gate, didn't break like we were hoping he would. But he ran a good race; he closed," Baffert said. "We know he can handle the distance. The quality is there; it just needs to come out of him."