Neptune's Storm makes first start for Miller in American Stakes

The Grade 3 American Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Sunday is primarily the starting point of a 2021 campaign for the multiple stakes winner Neptune’s Storm.

Unraced since September, Neptune’s Storm will race for the first time for trainer Peter Miller in the $100,000 American Stakes. Miller has goals of running Neptune’s Storm in more lucrative races in the second half of the year.

“He’s in the 80, 90 percent ready range,” Miller said on Thursday. “He’s a big heavy horse. I think he’ll need a race or two to be at his best. He’s certainly ready to run.”

A little competition may be good for Neptune’s Storm, who was previously trained by Richard Baltas and races for the partnership of John Rochfort, Saul Gevertz, Lynn Gitomer, Mike Goetz, Michael Nentwig, and Daniel Weiner.

A winner of 6 of 19 starts, Neptune’s Storm has been in training with Miller since early spring and has performed better in workouts with stablemates.

“He’s been very straightforward to train,” Miller said. “He’s a little on the lazy side in the morning. We’ve had to adjust to put him in company. You put him in company and he’s all business.”

:: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports

The American Stakes is one of four stakes on an 11-race program that begins at 1 p.m. Pacific. Sunday is the final day of the marathon Santa Anita winter-spring meeting that began on Dec. 26. Los Alamitos opens a two-week summer meeting on Friday.

Neptune’s Storm has won four stakes, the most prominent being the Grade 2 Hill Prince Stakes for 3-year-olds at Belmont Park in October 2019. Neptune’s Storm lone win in four starts last year was the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile on turf at Golden Gate Fields in June. Neptune’s Storm was fourth in the Tourist Mile at Kentucky Downs last September in his final start of 2020.

A 6-year-old, Neptune’s Storm will be ridden for the first time by leading rider Flavien Prat, who could have his mount on the lead.

The American Stakes drew a field of six, including Restrainedvengence, who was third in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on May 31, and Majestic Eagle, who won the 2019 American.

Restrainedvengence, a 6-year-old gelding, has won six stakes, but has yet to win a graded stakes. In the Shoemaker, Restrainedvengence raced between rivals and finished 3 1/4 lengths behind Smooth Like Strait.

“He ran really good in the last race,” co-owner and trainer Val Brinkerhoff said. “It was a tough race.

“Last race, he was between those horses and never relaxed. I’d rather sit just off the pace. This is probably the best chance he’s ever had to win a graded stakes. He’s been in some tough races.”

Majestic Eagle, trained by Neil Drysdale, is winless in 11 starts since the 2019 American Stakes, but was an encouraging second in the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on turf on May 29 in his first start of the year.