Midnight Storm ready to try dirt in Pacific Classic

DEL MAR, Calif. – A sharp main-track workout by Midnight Storm on Sunday at Del Mar has given trainer Phil D’Amato reason to aim the front-running turf specialist to the Grade 1 Pacific Classic on dirt Aug. 22.

“He’s always worked really well on the dirt, but he’s had such great form on grass that it was kind of hard to pull him off,” D’Amato said. “If you’re ever going to take a shot, now is the time.”

Midnight Storm first needed to show D’Amato he bounced back from a disappointing fifth-place finish as the favorite July 18 in the Grade 1 Eddie Read. D’Amato and jockey Tyler Baze believe he had an alibi.

Racing on a “good” turf course that had received a significant amount of rain, Midnight Storm never was comfortable.

But he rebounded, and on Sunday, Midnight Storm worked in company with the graded stakes winner Big John B. D’Amato said the workout “was designed for Big John B to apply pressure to Midnight Storm in the stretch and see what he would do.”

What he did was respond to the pressure and gallop out “like a wild horse,” according to D’Amato. Midnight Storm was timed in 1:12 for six furlongs, with Baze aboard. All systems go into the Pacific Classic.

The presence of Midnight Storm adds speed to the field, along with Bayern and the East Coast-based Coach Inge.

Midnight Storm, 4 for 10, won the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby last summer. He returned this year with a devastating N3X victory in April and finished second in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile in June, prior to the Read.

Two other Pacific Classic candidates also worked Sunday. Hard Aces, winner of the Gold Cup at Santa Anita, worked seven furlongs in 1:26.60. Imperative worked a mile in 1:40.80.