Midnight Storm tries dirt again in Native Diver

DEL MAR, Calif. – Right horse, wrong surface? Not so fast.

When the top-class turf horse Midnight Storm returns to dirt Sunday at Del Mar, the millionaire Grade 1 winner benefits from a scenario that cannot be ignored.

“I don’t see any speed in there,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “I think we’ll be on the lead, and they’ll have to come catch us.”

If the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes unfolds as expected, and if he handles dirt, Midnight Storm could be long gone. And though a $100,000 purse for a 1 1/8-mile race implies marginal relevance, this year could be different.

Midnight Storm and six rivals are candidates for the $12 million Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park. Though all 12 Pegasus berths have been sold for $1 million each, including one to the California Chrome ownership group, many placeholders are without a runner.

A win Sunday by Midnight Storm would make him an attractive candidate for a Pegasus placeholder to buy, lease, or share. “There have been some inquiries made about him,” D’Amato said.

The same applies to other Native Diver runners. The field includes Hard Aces, a Grade 1 winner; Imperative, a Grade 2 winner who won a stakes last out; Point Piper, a Grade 3 winner; and Blue Tone, a stakes winner who figures for a great trip Sunday, positioned second behind the speed. Ebadan and Pretentious also entered.

Midnight Storm won a maiden race on “fast” dirt in 2014 but could be racing over a wet track for the first time. Rain was expected Saturday into Sunday.

“The surface is going to be a big question,” D’Amato said. “I’m going to guess and say it’s going to be a sealed, wet-fast track.”

Midnight Storm, third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, has been galloping over the Del Mar main track all week. His previous start on dirt at Del Mar was a last-place finish in the 2015 Pacific Classic after he and Bayern engaged in a suicidal duel.

“He trains too good [on dirt] to not give it another shot,” D’Amato said.

KEY CONTENDERS

Midnight Storm, by Pioneerof the Nile
Last 3 Beyers: 105-106-104

◗ Flavien Prat fills in for the sidelined Rafael Bejarano. Midnight Storm’s pedigree is fine for a wet track. His sire’s progeny run well on wet; Midnight Storm’s dam, My Tina, by Bertrando, won her only start on a wet track by more than eight lengths.

Blue Tone, by Birdstone
Last 3 Beyers: 94-102-41

◗ Third last out in a Grade 3 marathon, Blue Tone figures for a perfect trip positioned second. If the pacesetter falters, Blue Tone would get first run.

Imperative, by Bernardini
Last 3 Beyers: 103-79-103

◗ A deep closer, he ended an 18-race losing streak last out with a stretch-running victory in a fast-paced, one-mile stakes. He faces a completely different pace scenario Sunday.

Hard Aces, by Hard Spun
Last 3 Beyers: 96-96-76

◗ He won the Hollywood Gold Cup in 2015 at Santa Anita and a Grade 3 marathon in July at Del Mar. He finished second last out in a Grade 3 marathon. He has won on a wet track.