Midnight Storm dominated Del Mar this Summer and now his connections are looking to move on to Santa Anita–for the Breeders’ Cup. He won his latest Grade 2 turf event on Sunday winning the $200,000 Del Mar Mile as the 1-5 favorite. Early in the meet he won the $251,380 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles. The next challenge is the Breeders’ Cup Turf Mile and his connections say that they plan to not race again until that event.

Om would finish second four and 1/2 lengths ahead of 9-1 choice Ohio. Om hadn’t raced since March and trainer Dan Hendricks is pointing him toward the Breeders’ Cup Turf. He was pleased with his horse’s gutsy performance in defeat: “I was really happy. He stalked so nicely. He ran hard. He didn’t look like he was spent.” Hendricks also said that he’ll run Om in another prep race before the Breeders’ Cup with the most likely target being the $200,000 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita on October 8

Although Midnight Storm led throughout the race he had to hold off a hard challenge from Om late to win by a half a length. He posted solid early fractions of 22.82 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.66 for the half mile. Midnight Storm led by a half a length over Ambitious Brew at the three quarter pole but after he faded Om came on from third to challenge Midnight Storm in the final sixteenth. Trainer Phil D’Amato said he knew jockey Rafael Bejerano had the situation under control: “I thought he had the race under control. It was tight at the end. Rafael said he rode him with confidence. Om came with a big run and made him run.” As for what’s next, D’Amato made it clear: “We’ll give him a break and go for the Breeders’ Cup.”
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Midnight Storm has now won three consecutive stakes including the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita on June 4 which awarded him a ‘free pass’ into the Breeders’ Cup Mile. The 5 year old is having the best season of his career having earned $539,000 so far in 2016. For his career, he’s won 8 of 18 starts and earned $1,101,110.