D'Amato works two for Torrey Pines

DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainer Phil D’Amato ended the race week with a victory on Sunday by Midnight Storm in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile, and on Monday morning, he set about trying to have similar results this weekend, sending out Enola Gray and Bellamentary to work for the Grade 3, $100,000 Torrey Pines Stakes on Sunday.

The Torrey Pines, at one mile for 3-year-old fillies, has proven to be an important stepping-stone in recent years. Stellar Wind won it last year and Beholder in 2013. Both won Eclipse Awards those in years.

Enola Gray, working with regular jockey Tyler Baze, covered six furlongs in 1:12.80. Unbeaten in three starts, Enola Gray figures to start as the favorite, and her presence should keep the field size down.

“She’s just poetry in motion,” D’Amato said of her work.

Enola Gray will be making her first start against open company after three dominating performances against California-breds, twice in stakes, including the Fleet Treat here on July 22.

Bellamentary showed her readiness for the Torrey Pines by whistling through five furlongs in 58 seconds, the fastest of 47 works at the distance. A three-time winner, Bellamentary was second to the unbeaten champion Songbird in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita on June 18.

Bellamentary is owned in part by the Little Red Feather partnership, which also is a co-owner of the turf star Midnight Storm, who won his third straight stakes and his second at this meet in the Del Mar Mile.

When Midnight Storm won the Eddie Read Stakes here last month, D’Amato said he might wait until the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 5 at Santa Anita to run him next, “but he came out of that race like a bulldog,” D’Amato said Monday, so he ran him again.

D’Amato on Monday said he expects to await the Breeders’ Cup Mile for Midnight Storm’s next start. The only possible prep would be the Grade 2, $200,000 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita on Oct. 8.

“He came out of the race well,” D’Amato said. “He’s like my turf version of Silver Charm. He loves getting in a dogfight. Each time, he impresses me more and more.”