With four consecutive top efforts going two turns on grass to his credit, War At Sea heads a wide-open field of nine sophomores going a mile and one eighth on turf in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita.
Third, beaten one length in the G2 Del Mar Derby under the same conditions Sept. 3, War At Sea had a three-game winning streak snapped dating back to a one mile maiden turf win here on March 5. A three quarter length winner over well regarded Cabo Spirit in the ungraded Cinema Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on grass two starts back June 4, War At Sea, a Kentucky-bred colt by War Front out of the Street Cry mare Serene Melody, has three wins and as many thirds from six starts this year as he seeks his first graded stakes victory.
Trained by Ron Ellis and owned by Doubledown Stables, Inc., War At Sea will be ridden for the fifth consecutive time by Mike Smith. With an overall mark of 9-3-0-4, War At Sea, who was purchased out of a Florida 2-year-old in training sale a year ago March for $525,000, has earnings of $206,780.
Trained by George Papaprodromou, Cabo Spirit, who took the G3 La Jolla Handicap two starts back at 1 1/16 miles on turf, finished a disappointing fifth in the Del Mar Derby as he flattened out to be beaten by 2 ½ lengths.
Owned by Kretz Racing, LLC, Cabo Spirit, a 3-year-old gelding by Pioneerof the Nile, was purchased for $575,000 out of the Ocala Breeders April 2021, 2-year-old in Training Sale. With Joe Bravo set to ride back for the sixth consecutive time, Cabo Spirit brings earnings of $318,560 from an overall mark of 14-3-3-3.
THE GRADE 2 TWILIGHT DERBY WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 7 of 10 Approximate post time 4 p.m. PT
- Seven Wonders – Hector Berrios – 124
- Go Joe Won – Jose Valdivia, Jr. – 124
- Perfect Flight – Ramon Vazquez- 124
- Handy Dandy – Umberto Rispoli – 124
- Cabo Spirit – Joe Bravo – 124
- Sayincotai – Victor Espinoza – 124
- Degree of Risk – Drayden Van Dyke – 124
- Speaking Scout – Juan Hernandez – 124
- War At Sea – Mike Smith – 124
First post time for a 10-race card, which will include seven stakes on Saturday is at 1 p.m.
The post War At Sea Heads Wide-Open Field Of Nine In Twilight Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
