Selma, Texas (July 24, 2004) - Jack Sweesy and Keith McKinney's regally-bred 4-year-old colt Gold Storm led almost the entire trip to annex the $40,000 J. R. Straus Memorial Stakes at Retama Park tonight. The favored son of Seeking the Gold out of the Storm Bird mare Storm Teal held off the rallying High Strike Zone by a neck at the wire, which he reached in 1:10.20 for six furlongs.

After breaking alertly under jockey Larry Taylor, Gold Storm set fractions of :22.63 and :46.02 under pressure from Charming Socialite, Home Made Soup, and Ghannam. Gold Storm kicked clear of those foes to a clear lead in the stretch. However, jockey Ted Gondron had High Strike Zone in high gear on the outside and closing ground. In the final furlong, High Strike Zone quickly narrowed the gap and just missed catching Gold Storm.

The Niner Account rallied to take third place, a half-length behind High Strike Zone and 2 1/4 lengths clear of Front Nine. Aledo Pass, Late Expectations, Ghannam, Charming Socialite, and Home Made Soup completed the order of finish.

Gold Storm is trained by C. W. "Bubba" Cascio.