Neptune's Storm doing too good to stay in barn for Twilight Derby

ARCADIA, Calif. – Neptune’s Storm emerged from his third stakes win of the year in the Grade 2 Hill Prince Stakes at Belmont Park on Oct. 5 in such favorable condition that trainer Richard Baltas adjusted plans for an autumn campaign.

Neptune’s Storm has had the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar on Nov. 30 a long-term target in recent months. Baltas recently added Saturday’s Grade 2 Twilight Derby to the agenda.

“He came back great,” Baltas said of Neptune’s Storm's condition after the Hill Prince Stakes.

“He’s a big, strong horse. I don’t see any reason not to run.”

Neptune’s Storm showed an affinity for the Santa Anita turf course in the spring, winning the Singletary Stakes in April and the Cinema Stakes in June in consecutive starts. The Del Mar summer meeting was not as kind to him. Neptune’s Storm was beaten a neck when second in the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap on Aug. 4 and third by a neck in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby behind Nolde and Originaire, who are part of the field for the $200,000 Twilight Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

In the Hill Prince Stakes, Neptune’s Storm stalked the pace and took the lead in the final furlong, winning by three-quarters of a length.

“I saw a paceless race and that’s what he can do,” Baltas said. “He can be up close. Maybe he’ll be a little farther back this time.”

The Twilight Derby drew a field of 13, including five runners who had their last start outside of California. Henley’s Joy, who won the Grade 1 Belmont Derby at 1 1/4 miles on July 6, was fourth in the Hill Prince Stakes, beaten a length.

There are five stakes winners in the field, including Nolde and Kingly. Nolde won the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby, while Kingly won the La Jolla Handicap before finishing fifth in the Del Mar Derby.

Kingly was fourth by a neck in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile against older horses on Oct. 5, a prep for Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Nolde has won three of his last four starts, and showed an impressive rally to win the Del Mar Derby at 1 1/8 miles.

“He has that big turn of foot,” trainer John Shirreffs said.

Nolde will be ridden by Victor Espinoza on Saturday. Kingly is expected to set the pace under Mario Gutierrez.

This will be the stakes debut for the former $50,000 claimer Ocean Fury, who closed from sixth of 11 to win in an allowance race at 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 27.

The Twilight Derby will be the turf debut for the well-traveled Gray Magician, who won the Ellis Park Derby at a mile in August and was second in the Group 2 United Arab Emirates Derby in Dubai in March. Gray Magician was fifth in an optional claimer here in January and has since raced six times at six different venues.