Stakes winners audition for Breeders' Cup in Del Mar Mile

DEL MAR, Calif. – It is not the biggest field that will run in a turf mile this year at Del Mar, nor is the $200,000 purse remotely close to a $1 million Breeders’ Cup pot.

But for six turf milers entered in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile Handicap, the ramifications are clear. Before they face the best in the world in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar this fall, they must face the best turf milers in California on Sunday.

Four U.S. graded stakes winners – Midnight Storm, Vyjack, Bal a Bali, and Om – will attract the most support; South American Group 1 winner Le Ken and the improving Blackjackcat enter as upset candidates. Om’s trainer, Dan Hendricks, noted that the race has a little of everything.

“You’ve got speed, you’ve got stalkers, and you’ve got closers,” Hendricks said. “And you’ve got quality. How many stakes has that field won between them?”

Bal a Bali has won 12 stakes, including two Grade 1 races this year. Midnight Storm has won seven stakes, Vyjack five, Le Ken four, Om three, and Blackjackcat one. The total is 32. But what have you done for me lately?

Although neither Midnight Storm nor Vyjack won last out, one could argue that the Phil D’Amato trainees are the top contenders. Midnight Storm has won 5 of 6 on the Del Mar course. He returns to his preferred footing and is fresh following a three-month break.

“He likes it down here at Del Mar,” D’Amato said. “He’s training like the horse of old.”

Vyjack finished second last out in a restricted stakes, his first start of the year. D’Amato expects a forward move.

“He came out of that race in really good shape, on his toes,” D’Amato said. “I think second off the bench, you’ll see his ‘A’ game.”

Midnight Storm runs on the lead; Vyjack rallies from behind. The Del Mar turf is friendly to closers, which is not an issue for Midnight Storm. When he won the Grade 2 Eddie Read at Del Mar last summer, Midnight Storm was the first horse at the meet to lead a turf route gate to wire following nine turf-route winners who rallied from behind.

“When it comes to [Midnight Storm] and biases, I don’t put a lot of credence into it,” D’Amato said.

Only three of 32 turf miles this season through Thursday were won by the pacesetter.

For Midnight Storm and Vyjack, D’Amato said the BC Mile “is on both of their radar.” Om, the runner-up last year in the BC Turf Sprint, would target the BC Mile if good enough.

“You’ve got to win one of these to get in,” Hendricks said. “They’re not Win and You’re Ins, but you’ve got to earn your way in.”

Om finished second in his comeback.

“He ran 1:32 and change with seven months off,” Hendricks said. “He ran a super race. He did everything but win.”

Le Ken won 5 of 8 in Argentina and has been working at Keeneland for his U.S. debut. Trainer Ignacio Correas said comeback options were limited to the Grade 2 Play the King this weekend at Woodbine and the Del Mar Mile.

“Tough races, we have to ship for both of them, and [owners] Pozo de Luna will be at Del Mar,” Correas said. “I don’t think there are many easy spots for a multiple Group 1 winner at this time. We are very excited for the race and looking forward to being back to a place so dear to me and my family.”

Correas was a California-based assistant trainer to the late Bill Currin before going out on his own.

Bal a Bali, trained by Richard Mandella, won a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race, the Shoemaker Mike, in June at Santa Anita. The Del Mar Mile is expected to be his final start prior to the BC Mile. Bal a Bali is the 5-2 second choice in the program.