Having earned a graded-stakes placing in her season debut last month, Amidst Waves returns chasing a third stakes win in Sunday’s $100,000 Stormy Blues for 3-year-old fillies at Laurel Park.

The Stormy Blues, scheduled for 5 ½ furlongs on the Exceller turf course, is the first stakes of Laurel’s 33-day summer meet and headliner on a nine-race Father’s Day program featuring Bourbon and BBQ and a vintage car show (weather permitting). For tickets and information visit https://am.ticketmaster.com/marylandjockeyclub/BBQ

First race post time is 12:25 p.m.

Owned by Big Tufff Stables, Blackridge Stables, Black Type Thoroughbreds, R.A. Hill Stable and Swinbank Stables, Amidst Waves ran third by 1 ¼ lengths in the May 12 Soaring Softly (G3) sprinting six furlongs on the Aqueduct turf, her first race since finishing 10^th, beaten four lengths by multiple British group stakes winner Big Evs, in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) Nov. 3 at Santa Anita, her second straight start against the boys.

“It was a great way to start the year,” co-owner Reagan Swinbank said of the Soaring Softly. “We’re excited about her. She’s always been a sound horse and does everything well. Can’t wait to see what she does.”

Amidst Waves was purchased out of a 3 ¾-length maiden special weight win last June at Belmont Park, her first try on turf after running fourth in debut a month earlier on the Gulfstream Park dirt. She immediately reeled off wins in the Colleen at Monmouth Park and Bolton Landing at Saratoga before running second as the favorite by a nose facing males in the 5 ½-furlong Indian Summer at Keeneland.

“We bought her as a 2-year-old after her [second] race. We liked her then, and she obviously had a good year. She was ready to win some races for us,” Swinbank said. “We were excited to get her going as a 3-year-old and she came out and got third in a stakes race that we were very happy with. We’re excited to see what she does the rest of the season.”

Thus far Amidst Waves has displayed the ability to race near the lead or come from off the pace, a versatility that the connections believe serve her well particularly in large fields such as the Stormy Blues, which drew 15 entries. The daughter of Midshipman drew Post 7 with jockey Feargal Lynch to ride.

“She’s only 3 so we’re still trying to figure out the perfect trip for her and what she likes, but she’s shown the ability to go early and to rate a little bit. That’s what makes her so fun,” Swinbank said. “Turf sprinting, the trip is so important. To be able to hit the board in both race scenarios is pretty exciting.”

Amidst Waves has also shown an affinity for different surfaces, having won the Bolton Landing and run third in the Soaring Softly over courses rated good. The Stormy Blues will mark her eighth different racetrack in as many starts.

“We’ve just got to find all the turf sprints in the country. That’s what we’re after this year,” Swinbank said. “We think that’s her best approach. She’s going to stay short and stay on the grass.”

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