Midnight Storm works on Santa Anita Handicap strategy

ARCADIA, Calif. - Midnight Storm worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 at Santa Anita on Sunday in a scenario that could resemble the race strategy for his next start in Saturday's Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap.

Midnight Storm worked alone, but two runners from another stable began workouts shortly before Midnight Storm. Through the workout, Midnight Storm raced a few lengths behind the other horses under exercise rider Jose Dominguez.

“The company was in front and he didn’t turn a hair,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “He galloped-out well.”

Midnight Storm may set the pace in the Big Cap, but could yield the early advantage to Cautious Giant, who was supplemented to the race Saturday as a pacesetter for stablemate Imperative.

Midnight Storm has frequently led in his recent races, which includes five stakes wins in his last six starts. He has shown the ability to win from a stalking position, notably in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap on turf at Del Mar in November 2015.

“Our horse is versatile,” D’Amato said.

Midnight Storm races for Alex Venneri and the Little Red Feather Racing partnership. A 6-year-old horse, Midnight Storm has won 10 of 21 starts and has earned $1,461,110.

Midnight Storm and Shaman Ghost, who was second in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 28, will carry joint highweight of 122 pounds in the $750,000 Big Cap. The race is run at 1 1/4 miles.

Arrogate, winner of the Pegasus World Cup, was assigned topweight of 126 pounds, but will start in the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 25.

The Big Cap has a field of 10 probable starters. Other weight assignments are Hard Aces, Imperative, and Isotherm, at 119 pounds; Follow Me Crev, Hi Happy, and Twentytwentyvision, at 116; and Cautious Giant and Gangster, at 115.