Prat and Neptune's Storm triumph in Lure Stakes
ARCADIA, Calif. - Neptune’s Storm won the sixth stakes of his career, and moved closer to the seven-figure mark in career earnings, with a neck victory in Saturday’s $75,300 Lure Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita.
An ideal trip under jockey Flavien Prat played a vital role in the result. Prat positioned Neptune’s Storm outside of pacesetter Lambeau through a moderate pace of 23.12 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.66 for a half-mile. On the turn, Neptune’s Storm was within a half-length of Lambeau and took the lead with about a furlong remaining.
“He made a good move,” Prat said. “I opened up on them and he was good enough to get to the wire.”
Neptune’s Storm ($3) held off a late run from 10-1 Order and Law, finishing in 1:35.49. Lambeau (12-1) held third, beaten a length, followed by Majestic Eagle, Dubby Dubbie and Shooters Shoot.
Neptune’s Storm earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 91.
:: Win big at Santa Anita: Get DRF Past Performances, Picks, Clocker Reports and Betting Strategies.
The Lure Stakes was restricted to horses who had not won a stakes worth $60,000 or more to the winner at a mile or over in 2021, aside from statebred stakes.
Neptune’s Storm races for the partnership of Saul Gevertz, Lynn Gitomer, Mike Goetz, Michael Nentwig, and Daniel Weiner and trainer Peter Miller.
A 5-year-old gelding by Stormy Atlantic, Neptune’s Storm won for the second time in his fifth start of the year in the Lure. Neptune’s Storm won the restricted Wickerr Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar on July 18 in his second race of the season.
Neptune’s Storm was later fourth in a high-class running of the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 21 and ninth of 12 in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at 1 1/4 miles here Oct. 3.
In his career, Neptune’s Storm has won 8 of 24 starts and has earned $981,865.