With Arrogate away, Midnight Storm is free to play

The Grade 2 San Pasqual was a race that was supposed to be dominated by the Breeders’ Cup Classic champion, Arrogate. The would be heavy favorite was held out of the action due to a wet racetrack, though, leaving the New Year’s Day feature ripe for the picking. Midnight Storm was more than ready and able to take advantage, cruising over the Santa Anita main track to a wire-to-wire, 1 ¼-length victory over Accelerate.

Sent off at odds of 3-5, the six-year-old son of Pioneerof The Nile was coming in off a romping win in the Grade 3 Native Diver last time at Del Mar. That was his first dirt race in well over a year, after eight consecutive runs on the turf. It looks like the surface switch is serving him well. Asked for early speed today from his outside post in the field of four, Midnight Storm and rider Rafael Bejarano had no trouble in clearing the field in the first 100 yards. As expected, they led the group of older males into the first turn.

Somewhat unexpected, though, was the amount of pressure put on the favored leader by the longest shot on the board, Dalmore. After a somewhat easy first quarter of :23.02, the 6-1 shot hounded the Phil D’Amato-trained Midnight Storm for much of the race. The odds-on choice held a narrow advantage down the backstretch and into the far turn through ratcheted up middle fractions of :45.59 and 1:08.93, while the other two in the compact field waited to make their move.

There would be no move coming from Prospect Park, but Accelerate was full of run. After Midnight Storm easily dispatched of Dalmore at the top of the lane, Bejarano had to keep his charge’s mind on his business, as Accelerate continued to run well down the lane. The decision was never in doubt, though, and on the wire, Midnight Storm was a clear winner. Accelerate was 2 ½-lengths better than Dalmore for second.

“The track has been playing fast since earlier today,” remarked the winning rider. “I knew I had to put my horse on the lead. I needed a good start and when I put him on the lead I felt the pressure right away. Dalmore was right next to me, chasing me the whole way. I kept him on the lead but tried to give him a breather at the half-mile pole. At the three-eighths I knew he would keep running. He loves to be on the lead and he always gives me something else.”

The final time for the 1 1/16-miles over a Santa Anita main track labeled as wet-fast was a very solid 1:40.65. With the San Pasqual victory, Midnight Storm raised his lifetime record to 21-10-3-1 for her ownership team of Alex Venneri Racing and Little Red Feather Racing. He also raised his career earnings to an impressive total of $1,461,110.

As the big favorite, Midnight Storm returned $3.20 to win and $2.10 to place. There was no show wagering due to the field size. The 4-2 exacta, with the 7-2 third choice in the runner-up spot, was good for $6.20, while the trifecta with Dalmore in third, returned $15.40.

“We were going to the lead, whether Arrogate was in or not,” said a proud D’Amato. “Rafael followed the game plan. We thought Accelerate would be the one pressing us, not Dalmore, but it still worked out and he maintained through some grueling fractions and he showed his class in the stretch. Obviously, Arrogate scratching improved our chances of winning today. In my eyes, that horse is the Horse of the Year. At the same time, there’s a bit of you that wants to test your horse against the best and see where you stand but I’m very happy with my horse’s performance.”

As for the likely soon to be 3yo Champion of 2016, Arrogate will now be pointed straight for the $12 million Pegasus World Cup. Whether or not he faces today's San Pasqual winner remains to be seen, but after five graded stakes wins in his last six starts, there can be little doubt that Midnight Storm has earned the shot if his connections decide to roll the dice.