Talco poised for breakout in Twilight Derby

ARCADIA, Calif. – When the French import Talco finished third in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby, trainer John Sadler saw enough to expect grand things from him this fall.

“We didn’t know all that much about him,” Sadler said. “We think he’s a nice prospect.”

Talco hasn’t raced since the Aug. 31 Del Mar Derby, and Sadler is eager for Talco’s comeback Friday at Santa Anita in the $200,000 Twilight Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3-year-olds.

Talco is part of the field of 12 in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby, which drew seven stakes winners.

Talco has yet to win a stakes. Aside from the Del Mar Derby, he was second in a minor stakes at Deauville, France, on July 2 in his final start in that country.

KEY CONTENDERS

Talco (Beyer: 88)

◗ Owned by Kosta Hronis, Talco closed from seventh in the field of eight to finish 3 1/4 lengths behind winner Midnight Storm in the Del Mar Derby. Midnight Storm set a slow pace and pulled away from Sawyer’s Hill, another starter in the Twilight Derby.

“He ran so well at Del Mar,” Sadler said. “If you look at his Del Mar Derby, it was that fake pace that won the race. He was the only one that closed.”

Enterprising (Last 3 Beyers: 84-94-93)

◗ Enterprising won two stakes at Del Mar – the Oceanside Stakes on July 17 and the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap on Aug. 9 – before finishing sixth as the 8-5 favorite in the Del Mar Derby. He closed from eighth to finish five lengths behind Midnight Storm.

◗ A quick pace in the Twilight Derby would help Enterprising, who will be ridden by Mike Smith for trainer Tom Proctor.

◗ Enterprising is a four-time stakes winner.

Ring Weekend (Last 3 Beyers: 96-100-95)

◗ Ring Weekend has thrived since settling into a turf career in the summer. He won the Grade 3 Saranac Stakes at Saratoga on Sept. 1, and the Grade 3 Hill Prince Stakes at Belmont Park on Oct. 4.

◗ Trainer Graham Motion said he considered running Ring Weekend in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Mile.

“We thought this would be a better progression,” Motion said.

Flamboyant (Last 3 Beyers: 78-88-91)

◗ Flamboyant was last of eight in the Del Mar Derby, a performance that baffled trainer Paddy Gallagher.

“I’d like to blame something, but I couldn’t,” Gallagher said. “He seemed well before and after.”

◗ Imported from France last winter, Flamboyant won his U.S. debut in the La Puente Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf here in April.

Sawyer’s Hill (Last 3 Beyers: 88-89-90)

◗ Sawyer’s Hill was second throughout the Del Mar Derby, his graded stakes debut.

◗ The colt drew the rail in the Twilight Derby and could play a factor as part of the pace.