Midnight Storm will be hard to catch in Shoemaker Mile
ARCADIA, Calif. – Midnight Storm is perfect since joining trainer Phil D’Amato’s stable last summer, winning three starts.
“Whatever he does, he does it nicely,” D’Amato said.
The second race of the winning streak was the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby last August in Midnight Storm’s stakes debut. The most recent win was an optional claimer in April in his 2015 debut. That record makes Midnight Storm a top contender to win the first Grade 1 race of his career in the $400,000 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita on Saturday.
Conditions may be ideal for Midnight Storm, a 4-year-old colt by Pioneerof the Nile. There are only five entrants in the Shoemaker and Midnight Storm will be the pacesetter.
There will be a formidable chasing pack, led by Bal a Bali, the 2014 Horse of the Year in Brazil who won the Grade 3 American Stakes in his U.S. debut on May 9; and Seek Again, who was a troubled third in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on May 2.
The Shoemaker Mile is part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program, offering a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 31, provided the winner is nominated for the Breeders’ Cup program.
Shoemaker Mile, Race 5
KEY CONTENDERS
Midnight Storm (Last 3 Beyers: 106-95-90)
◗ Midnight Storm led throughout the optional claimer at a mile on turf on April 16, leading by five lengths with a quarter-mile remaining and winning by 7 3/4 lengths under jockey Tyler Baze. Baze has been aboard Midnight Storm for his last two wins and has the mount on Saturday.
“It was a perfect prep,” D’Amato said. “Tyler said he asked him a little and he took off. He kind of idled at the end.”
◗ Midnight Storm won the race in 1:33.31, a time that will nearly impossible to duplicate on Saturday. In recent weeks, the turf course has been frequently aerated to prevent firmness and has produced slower times. D’Amato said he is not concerned that such conditions will prevent Midnight Storm from leading throughout.
“I’m confident he can run on any surface,” he said.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Midnight Storm. Trainer Phil D’Amato is 6-3-0-2 with a $7.86 ROI over the past year with last-out winners in turf route graded stakes in Southern California. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Bal a Bali (Last Beyer: 102)
◗ Trained by Richard Mandella, Bal a Bali closed from fourth with a quarter-mile remaining in the American Stakes at a mile on turf to win by a length over Talco, who is part of the Shoemaker field. Bal a Bali, who has won 12 of 13 career starts, at distances from 6 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/2 miles on turf in Brazil in 2013 and 2014.
“He’s pretty quick,” Mandella said. “I think if I had a good race to point, I could have run him 6 1/2 on the turf. I think the jury is out on his best distance.”
◗ Bal a Bali, who will be ridden by Flavien Prat, has shown quick workouts in recent weeks, leaving Mandella eager for the Shoemaker.
“It’s the same he showed before,” Mandella said. “He looks pretty impressive with everything he does.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Bal a Bali. Trainer Richard Mandella is 15-1-2-2 with a $0.29 ROI over the past five years with last-out winners in turf routes in the second start following a layoff, with five favorites finishing out of the money. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan