Webslinger seeks Twilight Derby with eye toward next year's Breeders' Cup

ARCADIA, Calif. – A wet Saturday in New York last month resulted in Webslinger being flown to California for Saturday’s Grade 2 Twilight Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita.

Trainer Mark Casse is hopeful that the $250,000 Twilight Derby will prove Webslinger’s status as a leading 3-year-old turf horse who can be competitive in major turf stakes in 2024.

“I hope we’re back here next year,” Casse said earlier this week in reference to the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar next November.

First objective is the Twilight Derby. Webslinger, owned by D. J. Stable, is part of a competitive field of 13 that includes the stakes winners Be Your Best, Maltese Falcon, Packs a Wahlop, and Reincarnate. Stakes-placed runners such as Almendares and Panic Alarm, as well as the recent allowance race winner Seal Team have interesting form.

Webslinger won consecutive stakes at Churchill Downs in the spring, including the Grade 2 American Turf. In two starts in Grade 1 races in the summer, Webslinger was fourth in the Belmont Derby in July, and second by a head in the Saratoga Derby on Aug. 5, his latest start.

Webslinger was scratched from the $485,000 Jockey Club Derby at the Belmont at Aqueduct meeting on Oct. 7 when the race was switched to dirt because of rain.

A winner of 4 of 11 starts, Webslinger runs from off the pace.

“They don’t run them far enough for him,” Casse said. “For him, it’s about pace. Sometimes, he gets in the mood and shows a little more speed.”

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Reincarnate, the winner of the Los Alamitos Derby on dirt in July, and Packs a Wahlop, a two-time stakes winner on turf in 2022, are likely to contribute to the pace.

Almendares and Panic Alarm, third and fourth in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Sept. 3, will race from off the pace.

Almendares won his American debut in an allowance race at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar on July 23.

“This is a much tougher race” than the Del Mar Derby, trainer Phil D’Amato said. “This is firmer than Del Mar and I think that will suit him more. He’s got the right style, very versatile.”

Panic Alarm will be tested for stamina in the Twilight Derby. He will be ridden for the first time by Frankie Dettori.

“I think it’s the outer limit of his distance,” trainer John Sadler said. “I’m excited about having Dettori. [Panic Alarm’s] training forwardly.”

Maltese Falcon won the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf on Aug. 6, and was second by a head in the Del Mar Derby. Last month, Maltese Falcon was fourth of 11 in an allowance race against older horses at 1 1/8 miles.

The Twilight Derby is the stakes debut for Seal Team, who is 2 for 3 this year and improving physically and mentally, according to trainer Richard Mandella.

Seal Team was third in his debut against winners at Del Mar on Sept. 9 in his second start of the year, but rebounded to win an allowance race here on Oct. 8.

“The second time he got a little too worked up,” Mandella said. “He was better last time and settled down and did his job nicely.”

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