Midnight Storm faces stern test in San Pasqual Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Midnight Storm, proven on turf, will face one of the toughest assignments of his career in Sunday’s $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes on dirt at Santa Anita.

There is a strong likelihood that Midnight Storm will race against Arrogate, the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic here on Nov. 5. The challenge is one worth taking, according to majority owner Alex Venneri.

“We won’t duck anymore,” he said. “When you duck a horse, things can go bad.”

Lately, much has gone right for Midnight Storm. The 5-year-old finished third in the BC Mile on turf here Nov. 5 and won the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on a dirt track rated “good” at Del Mar on Nov. 27. Midnight Storm won the Native Diver by 7 3/4 lengths, his first stakes win on dirt.

“We were a little nervous about it,” Venneri said of the Del Mar track. “It was drying out. We thought about scratching.”

The San Pasqual is run at 1 1/16 miles on the main track. In his final major exercise Monday, Midnight Storm worked six furlongs in 1:14.20, according to trainer Phil D’Amato. Midnight Storm worked alone shortly after 9 a.m. and looked sharp through the stretch. D’Amato timed Midnight Storm galloping out a mile in approximately 1:40.

“That’s the best work I’ve seen out of him,” Venneri said. “He loves this track.”

Midnight Storm, who is co-owned by the Little Red Feather partnership, will need every advantage in the San Pasqual. Aside from Arrogate, the other expected starters are Accelerate, Dalmore, Prospect Park, and Silent Bird. Trainer Bob Baffert said he will make a final decision on Arrogate’s status later in the week. The long-term goal for Arrogate is the $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 28.

The San Pasqual is one of four graded stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday and Sunday. The richest race over the weekend is Saturday’s $300,000 American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/4 miles on turf. The Grade 1 American Oaks was previously run during the late spring or early summer; it has been moved to the end of the year to have its own place on the national calendar.

The race is led by Stays in Vegas, who was third in the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes against older fillies and mares at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Dec. 4. Other candidates are Barleysugar, Cheekaboo, Decked Out, Do the Dance, Dynamic Mizzes K, How Unusual, Mokat, Mrs. Norris, Queen Blossom, and Sassy Little Lila.

◗ The older horse division in California will not include the two-time Grade 1 winner Melatonin for the foreseeable future.

Trainer David Hofmans said Monday that Melatonin has been plagued by a foot abscess and will be taken out of training. In December, Melatonin was in light training while Hofmans worked to treat the foot.

“We’ll give him a little time,” Hofmans said. “The abscess keeps rearin’ its ugly head. I can’t get him right. I’ll let nature take its course.”

Melatonin won the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap in March and the $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita in June. Melatonin has not raced since finishing fifth in the BC Classic.