Margot's Boy going on to Twilight Derby

Margot’s Boy, a game second in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 6, is likely to start in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby on Oct. 18, trainer Craig Lewis said Thursday.

The $200,000 Twilight Derby is run at 1 1/8 miles on turf and could lead to a start for Margot’s Boy in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf Nov. 28 at Del Mar.

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In the Del Mar Derby, Margot’s Boy was always near the front, led in the final sixteenth, and was beaten a head by Maryland shipper Pixelate.

“I thought he’d win until the last stride,” Lewis said.

Owned by Sonny Pais, Margot’s Boy has won 3 of 8 starts and earned $171,520. The Del Mar Derby, run at 1 1/8 miles on turf, was his graded stakes debut.

The Lewis-trained filly Warren’s Showtime was entered in the Del Mar Derby, but was withdrawn on the morning of the race because an illness. A four-time stakes winner, Warren’s Showtime is likely to start in the Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes at a mile on turf for 3-year-old fillies on Oct. 17.

“She’s recovered,” Lewis said. “She had an elevated white blood count. We got it under control and we’re back training. We’re happy she recovered so quickly.”