Neptune's Storm steps forward again in Cinema Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Neptune’s Storm continues to run the same sort of races in turf stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita this spring, and that’s fine with jockey Drayden Van Dyke.

In the Singletary Stakes at a mile on April 29, Neptune’s Storm stalked the pace and won by three-quarters of a length. In Sunday’s Grade 3 Cinema Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf, Neptune’s Storm had virtually the same trip and won by a length.

Neptune’s Storm may not win by wide margins, but the difference is deceptive, Van Dyke said.

“I figured him out from his previous race and in the morning – he doesn’t let horses pass him,” Van Dyke said. “He likes to fight. He’s got attributes I like.”

In the $150,000 Cinema, Neptune’s Storm stalked pacesetter King of Speed through slow fractions of 25.12 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 49.53 for a half-mile. Racing outside of King of Speed, Neptune’s Storm was within a head of the lead on the turn and took command entering the stretch.

Parsimony, a maiden, closed from fourth in the small field of five, but could not get to Neptune’s Storm.

“He didn’t feel threatened and I didn’t feel threatened,” Van Dyke said. “We got away with some easy fractions.”

Neptune’s Storm was timed in 1:48.65 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 83.

Parsimony finished a neck in front of 11-1 King of Speed, who was followed by 6-5 favorite Gregorian Chant and More Ice. Gregorian Chant was last to early stretch and was beaten 2 1/2 lengths.

The Cinema Stakes was Van Dyke’s second stakes win in as many days. He won the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes on Saturday with La Force. This was the third time this year that Van Dyke won two stakes on the same day or same weekend at Santa Anita.

Neptune’s Storm, a gelding by Stormy Atlantic, has won 4 of 9 starts and earned $249,585. He joined trainer Richard Baltas’s stable in early March after previous trainer William Morey disbanded his stable in late March and early April for an alleged medication violation.

Neptune’s Storm is owned by the partnership of Cybertec International, Saul Gevertz, Lynn Gitomer, Mike Goetz, and Daniel Weiner.