The 7-1 shot broke sharply and was a bit headstrong while racing in tight quarters heading into the clubhouse turn. He began to settle beneath Umberto Rispoli from there and raced on the inside in eighth through fractions of :23.56 and :47.18. Traveling well with a wall of horses in front of him at the top of the stretch, the bay threaded the needle beautifully as they straightened and produced a powerful run down the center to score by a half-length in the nine-furlong affair.

First-time gelding Silver Knott (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), beaten just a nose as the favorite in last fall's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, nosed out unlucky favorite Webslinger (Constitution) for second.

“We have always had big hopes for this horse,” winning trainer Richard Mandella said. “We thought he would be a good one. I didn't tell Umberto (Rispoli) a thing in the paddock. I just wished him luck.”

Seal Team, a debut second sprinting on the Del Mar lawn last November, got his picture taken in two of his previous three starts this term, including an optional claimer over this same course and distance last time Oct. 8.

Pedigree Notes:

Seal Team becomes the 64th graded/group winner (115th stakes winner) worldwide for leading sire War Front.

The two-time graded winner Mrs McDougal, a sales-topping $1.6-million purchase by agent Steve Young on behalf of the winner's connections at the 2018 KEEJAN sale, is also represented by the unraced 2-year-old colt Gun Barrel City (Frankel {GB}); a yearling colt by Curlin who RNA'd for $175,000 at KEESEP; and a Connect colt of this year. She was bred back to Charlatan.

No joy for Silver Knott and William Buick as Seal Team wins the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita!

It's Breeders' Cup time next… pic.twitter.com/1gD3myMLj2

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 4, 2023

Saturday, Santa Anita
TWILIGHT DERBY-GII, $254,000, Santa Anita, 11-4, 3yo, 1 1/8mT, 1:47.29, fm.
1–SEAL TEAM (GB), 124, c, 3, by War Front
                1st Dam: Mrs McDougal (MGSW & GISP, $496,736),
                                by Medaglia d'Oro
                2nd Dam: Distorted Passion, by Distorted Humor
                3rd Dam: Arianna's Passion, by Unbridled's Song
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O-Perry R.
and Ramona S. Bass II; B-Bass Stables, LLC (GB); T-Richard E.
Mandella; J-Umberto Rispoli. $150,000. Lifetime Record:
5-3-1-1, $260,960. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Silver Knott (GB), 124, g, 3, Lope de Vega (Ire)–God Given
(GB), by Nathaniel (Ire). (725,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT).
O-Godolphin, LLC; B-St Albans Bloodstock LLP (GB); T-Charles
Appleby. $50,000.
3–Webslinger, 124, g, 3, Constitution–Arana, by Hard Spun.
($45,000 RNA Ylg '21 KEESEP; $25,000 Ylg '21 FTKOCT; $45,000
RNA 2yo '22 OBSAPR; $50,000 2yo '22 OBSOPN). O-D. J. Stable
LLC; B-Kenneth L. & Sarah K. Ramsey (KY); T-Mark E. Casse.
$30,000.
Margins: HF, NO, NO. Odds: 7.30, 3.30, 2.50.
Also Ran: Reiquist, Almendares (GB), Watsonville, Panic Alarm (Ire), Be Your Best (Ire), Reincarnate, Packs a Wahlop, Maltese Falcon (Ire), Mondego (GB), California Bay.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Breaking alertly from post position two in the field of 10 sophomores, Subconscious sat a comfortable second, about a length and a half off of Rock Your World into the Club House turn and held his position in the run up the backside.  Three furlongs from home, Hernandez angled outside while a half-length back and at the top of the lane he was in command with longshot Cathkin Peak a length and a half back to his outside.

“Mr. Mandella told me if they went too (fast) in front, just to sit behind them because he's getting to relax and he runs better like that,” said Hernandez, who notched his third win on the day and his fourth stakes win of the 16-day meeting.  “I just let the speed go and he relaxed pretty well for me today, so I think that was the key, just to stay behind the speed.

“I thought for a moment (Rock Your World) was never going to stop.  That's why I put a little pressure (on him) around the half mile to ask him to move, but my horse helped me a lot, he responded really well.  When we kicked for home, he just exploded…He wouldn't get beat by the other horses.”

A 1 1/16 mile maiden turf winner in his fourth start on Aug. 21, Subconscious was most recently an impressive one-mile turf allowance winner at Santa Anita on Oct. 2.  In his first stakes assignment, he was off as the 5-2 second choice today and paid $7.80, $4.80 and $3.80.

A $380,000 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale weanling purchase, Subconscious is owned by LNJ Foxwoods.  Gelded following his third start on June 23, Subconscious, a 3-year-old by Tapit out of the Candy Ride mare Sweet Dreams, now has three wins from six starts—all on turf.  With the winner's share of $120,000, he increased his earnings to $219,820.

When asked if he thought the gelding process has been a significant factor in the development of Subconscious, assistant trainer Gary Mandella responded, “Yes, it's nice to see him live up to his potential now with that part of it straightened out.  He's a serious horse now.  The first time we saw him, we had really high hopes for him.  He had a little trouble with a knee, had a surgery and we turned him out.

“But even if that hadn't of happened, mentally, he just wasn't there.  Now he is and he's got it all figured out and you can see what he's turned into with these three (wins) in a row.”

Next to last and about seven lengths off the lead with a quarter mile to run, Irish-bred Cathkin Peak charged up the rail late in a huge effort to be second, finishing a half length in front of Beyond Brilliant.  Ridden by Jose Valdivia, Jr., Cathkin Peak was off at 26-1 and paid $16.00 and $11.00.

Attentive to the pace throughout, Beyond Brilliant took up the chase for victory when Rock Your World faded a furlong from home and out-finished Hudson Ridge by three quarters of length to pay $8.60 to show.

Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Rock Your World a winner of the G1 Santa Anita Derby in April and undefeated in two prior starts on grass, had no apparent excuses while finishing next to last at 6-5.

Fractions on the race were 23.76, 47.46, 1:11.52 and 1:35.04.

With $4.5 million in new money bet into today's mandatory payout 20 cent Rainbow Pick Six, there was total Rainbow Six pool of $5.3 million, resulting in 354 winning tickets that were each worth $12,164.90.

Live racing resumes with opening day of Santa Anita's Winter/Spring Meeting on Sunday, Dec. 26.

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“We think he's a horse that can run on either surface,”

John Sadler said of the three-year-old Candy Ride colt owned by Hronis Racing LLC and Talia Racing LLC, who in his seventh career race wears blinkers for the first time in the Twilight Derby.

“He'll run with a small blinker just to keep him a little more focused,” Sadler said. “It won't be a big cup, just what we call French blinkers.

“We want to put him back on turf for this race; he's trained really well. There have been no blips, (Umberto) Rispoli stays on him and we're looking forward to it.”

Rispoli has ridden Rock Your World in four of his six races, winning three and finishing second once. Joel Rosario was aboard for the other two races, in the Kentucky Derby when Rock Your World was sandwiched at the start and lost all chance, and in the Belmont Stakes when he prompted the pace early in the mile-and-a-half marathon but tired to finish sixth.

Rock Your World, winner of the restricted Pasadena Stakes on Santa Anita's turf course Feb. 27 before capturing the Santa Anita Derby, was second to Kentucky Derby winner and Breeders' Cup Classic-bound Medina Spirit last out in the Shared Belief Stakes on dirt at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., Aug. 29.

A $650,000 purchase at the September 2019 Keeneland Sales, Rock Your World, who was bred in Kentucky by HOF trainer Ron McAnally and his wife Debbie, has earned $611,600 but would exceed that with a Twilight Derby victory, worth $120,000 to the winner.

The $200,000 Twilight Derby at 1 1/8 miles is the 10th and final of 10 races with a 12:30 p.m. first post time: Flashiest, Abel Cedillo, 6-1; Subconscious, Juan Hernandez, 6-1; Zoffarelli, Drayden Van Dyke, 8-1; Hudson Ridge, Flavien Prat, 5-1; None Above the Law, Joe Bravo, 6-1; Wootton Asset, Mike Smith, 12-1; Cathkin Peak, Jose Valdivia Jr., 8-1; Rock Your World, Umberto Rispoli, 5-2; Jungle Cry, Kyle Frey, 12-1; and Beyond Brilliant, Kent Desormeaux, 15-1.

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Several runners from the GII Del Mar Derby run back in this spot, including top two finishers None Above the Law (Karakontie {Jpn}) and Flashiest (Mizzen Mast). Winner of a pair of stakes at Golden Gate, None Above the Law captured the state-bred Real Good Deal S. at Del Mar July 30 before taking the Sept. 4 Del Mar Derby. Flashiest took the restricted Oceanside S. July 16, but was a well-beaten 11th in the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational S. Aug. 7. He was only 3/4 of a length behind None Above the Law last out.

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Races in this weekend's rundown are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern). Full previews, when available, can be found through the link for each race.

TVG will feature racing from Keeneland, Santa Anita, Gulfstream Park, Laurel Park, Woodbine and more. Fans can tune in on TVG, TVG2 and the Watch TVG app which is available on Amazon Fire, Roku and connected Apple TV devices.

“America's Day at the Races” will be broadcasting live from Belmont Park on Saturday, Oct. 30 on FS1 from 12:30 – 4:00 pm and on FS2 from 4:00 – 6:00 pm. On Sunday, Oct. 31, “America's Day at the Races” will broadcast from Belmont Park on FS1 from 12:30 – 4:00 pm and on FS2 from 4:00 – 6:00 pm.

Friday, Oct. 29

5:16 PM ET – $150,000 Rubicon Valley View Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland on TVG

An overflow field of 16 was entered in the 1 1/6-mile Rubicon Valley View Stakes (G3T) for 3-year-old fillies. Trainer Kenny McPeek is represented by the duo of Crazy Beautiful, a main track multiple Grade 2 stakes winner and Grade 1 stakes placed Kentucky-bred daughter of Liam's Map, and multiple stakes winner Oliviaofthedesert, a Kentucky-bred daughter of the late Bernardini. Undefeated Lady Speightspeare, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Speightstown, won the Natalma Stakes (G1T) over Woodbine's turf course as a 2-year-old and won her only start of 2021 last month over that same course. Trainer Joseph O'Brien sends Queenship (IRE), a winner of three of four lifetime starts, for her first United States race.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE102921USA9-EQB.html

Saturday, Oct. 30

5:16 PM ET – $200,000 Hagyard Fayette Stakes (G2) at Keeneland on TVG

Independence Hall, fresh off a runner-up finish to NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll leader Knicks Go in last month's Lukas Classic Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs, is the morning line favorite in the nine-horse Fayette field. The Kentucky-bred son of Constitution will break from post five under Javier Castellano for trainer Michael McCarthy. Trainer Shug McGaughey has entered Code of Honor, a multiple-Grade 1 winner and earner of nearly $3 million. Tyler Gaffalione will ride the Kentucky-bred son of Noble Mission (GB).

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE103021USA9-EQB.html

7:08 PM ET – $100,000 Autumn Miss Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita on TVG

Zero Tolerance, winner of two of three career starts, looks for her first graded stakes win in the one-mile Autumn Miss (G3T) for trainer Peter Miller. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Mizzen Mast rallied late to win the listed Unzip Me Stakes earlier this month over Santa Anita's downhill turf course. Ego Trip (IRE), a maiden in three starts and trained by Brendan Walsh, finished third to Technical Analysis (IRE) in Saratoga's Lake Placid Stakes (G2T) in August.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA103021USA8-EQB.html

Sunday, Oct. 31

3:49 PM ET – $200,000 Bold Ruler Handicap (G3) at Belmont Park on FS1

A four-time winner in seven 2021 starts, Plainsman enters the seven-furlong Bold Ruler off a win in the Ack Ack Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. Trained by Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox, the Kentucky-bred son of Flatter will visit his sixth track this year. Wonderwherecraigis crossed the line first last out in the Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash Stakes (G3) but was disqualified for interference with a rival in the stretch and placed second. The Brittany Russell-trained gelding has won three of five starts this year.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL103121USA7-EQB.html

4:30 PM ET – $150,000 Ontario Derby (G3) at Woodbine on TVG

A field of eight 3-year-olds is entered in the 1-1/8-mile main track Ontario Derby (G3). Ontario-bred Riptide Rock was upset as the favorite by 25-1 shot British Royalty in Woodbine's Breeders' Stakes last month. Sid Attard, a Canadian Hall of Fame inductee, trains the Point of Entry gelding for Stronach Stables. Swot Analysis returned from a nearly 10-month layoff to win a seven-furlong allowance race over Woodbine's All Weather Track in his last start. The Louisiana-bred Anchor Down colt is trained by and will be making just his fifth career start.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO103121CAN8-EQB.html

8:00 PM ET – $200,000 Twilight Derby (G2T) at Santa Anita on TVG

This year's Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner, Rock Your World, returns to the turf for the first time after beginning his career a perfect two for two on the surface earlier this year. The Kentucky-bred son of Candy Ride (ARG) ran unplaced in both the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1) before finishing second most recently to Medina Spirit in Del Mar's Shared Belief Stakes. California-bred None Above the Law enters the 1-1/8-mile Twilight Derby off consecutive wins, including the Del Mar Derby presented by Caesars Sportsbook (G2) most recently. The Karakontie (JPN) gelding has won half of his 10 stars in 2021.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA103121USA10-EQB.html

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Trained by John Sadler, Rock Your World, who won his first two starts on grass here last winter, transitioned to the main track for the first time in his third start, the Santa Anita Derby on April 3 and he responded with a resounding 4 ¼ length win over eventual Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit.

From there, it was downhill, as Rock Your World was distanced in the Run for the Roses May 1, finishing 17th, beaten 24 ¼ lengths and was then run off his feet in the Belmont Stakes, finishing 22 lengths behind Essential Quality while running sixth. Freshened by Sadler, Rock Your World, who was bred by Hall of Fame conditioner Ron McAnally and his wife Debbie, came back to run a big second, beaten 1 ¼ lengths by Medina Spirit in the one mile Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar Aug. 29 when reunited with Umberto Rispoli, who hadn't ridden him since victorious in the Santa Anita Derby.

Owned by Hronis Racing, LLC and Talla Racing, LLC, Rock Your World is by Candy Ride out of the Empire Maker mare Charm the Maker. A winner while forwardly placed of the one mile turf Pasadena Stakes in his second start on Feb. 27, Rock Your World sat a close third early to the top of the lane and kicked on nicely through the lane under Rispoli in an effort that suggests he does not need the lead in his return to grass on Sunday. The leading money earner in the field with $611,600, Rock Your World has three wins and a second from six starts.

Under a picture perfect ride from Joe Bravo, California-bred None Above the Law saved ground, idled patiently around the far turn and kicked through at the rail to take a roughly run Grade 2 Del Mar Derby at a mile and one eighth on turf Sept. 4. Second, beaten a neck over the course here at Santa Anita in the mile and one eighth Snow Chief Stakes four starts back on June 19, this gelding by Karakontie has shown ample versatility and gameness over 14 starts for Peter Miller, posting a 6-2-1 record.

Owned by Downstream Racing, LLC, None Above the Law has won four stakes over three different surfaces, two at Del Mar and a pair at Golden Gate Fields and he has earnings of $454,060.

Trainer Jeff Mullins' Irish-bred Zoffarelli, fresh off a couple of rough trips on turf at Del Mar, needs only clear sailing to have huge chance in the Twilight Derby. Second, beaten a nose going a mile and one sixteenth in his U.S. debut in the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap Aug. 8, he was “pinballed late” in a huge effort. Subsequently sixth, beaten two lengths by None Above the Law after lacking room in a field of 13, Zoffarelli looms large indeed with Drayden Van Dyke riding back.

Owned by Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal, Zoffarelli has a 9-2-5-0 mark with earnings of $110,825.

Third, beaten a head as the 8-5 favorite by Zoffarelli two starts back in the Grade 3 La Jolla, Bob Baffert's Hudson Ridge was a much troubled ninth, beaten 3 ¼ lengths, as the 9-5 favorite in the Del Mar Derby when ridden for the first time by Flavien Prat. Severely pinched at the rail in the run out of the mile and one eighth chute at Del Mar, Hudson Ridge became rank and then had nowhere to go a furlong from home.

A winner of the ungraded Cinema Stakes at a mile and one eighth on turf four starts back here on May 23, Hudson Ridge will hope for clear sailing on Sunday with Prat back aboard. A bay colt by 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah out of the Galileo mare Shell House, Hudson Ridge is owned by Double L Racing and Natalie J. Baffert. With two wins and as many seconds from eight starts, he has earnings of $143,440.

A pair of recent turf allowance winners, the John Shirreffs-trained Beyond Brilliant, an impressive gate to wire winner going a mile and one sixteenth at Del Mar Sept. 6 and Richard Mandella's Subconscious, who although he stayed on his left lead through the lane, kicked nicely for home to win by 1 ¼ lengths going a flat mile on Oct. 2, are both up and comers who figure to stay out of trouble.

THE GRADE 2 TWILIGHT DERBY WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 10 of 10 Approximate post time 4:45 p.m. PT

1. Flashiest—Abel Cedillo–124
2. Subconscious—Juan Hernandez—124
3. Zoffarelli—Drayden Van Dyke—124
4. Hudson Ridge—Flavien Prat—124
5. None Above the Law—Joe Bravo—124
6. Wooton Asset—Mike Smith- 124
7. Cathkin Peak—Jose Valdivia, Jr.—124
8. Rock Your World—Umberto Rispoli—124
9. Jungle Cry—Kyle Frey—124
10. Beyond Brilliant—Kent Desormeaux—124

Sunday's 20 cent Rainbow Pick Six Jackpot will be comprised of races five through 10. With a mandatory payout and the possibility of a total Rainbow Six pool of $5 million, approximate post time for Sunday's fifth race is 2:30 p.m. PT.

Special early first post time on Sunday is at 12:30 p.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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Another in the trainer's imported “Irish Army,” Cathkin Peak is a gelded son of Alhebayeb that was an eventful fourth last out in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby, closing resolutely despite lacking room in deep stretch, beaten just a length and a quarter by California-bred None Above the Law, who will be a favorite in the Twilight Derby trained by Peter Miller.

“He had traffic problems, nowhere to go (in the Del Mar Derby),” D'Amato said. “Hopefully, we'll regroup. He's ready for the test even though this will be an even tougher race.”

Jose Valdivia Jr., who was aboard in the Del Mar Derby, retains the mount.

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A son of Mizzen Mast conditioned by Leonard Powell, Flashiest has three wins and two seconds, his lone disappointing performance an eventful 11th in the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., last Aug. 7.

“When we shipped to Saratoga, the experience was too much for him,” the trainer explained. “He got really hot in the paddock and he got to be a handful for the jockey. The whole thing was a bit overwhelming.

“He had his first race in April of this year, so he's still quite immature. But once we got back to Del Mar and into his routine, he's been just fine.”

A three-year-old gelding, Flashiest has a win and a second over Santa Anita's turf course, and the mile and an eighth of the Twilight Derby should suit his strong stretch-running style.

“That should be the right distance for him,” Powell said, “and Abel (Cedillo) will ride him back.”.

Cedillo was aboard last out on Sept. 4 when second by three-quarters of a length at odds of nearly 13-1 in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby, and at nearly the same odds on July 16 when he guided him to victory by a head in the restricted Oceanside.

Flashiest worked four furlongs this morning in :50.40.

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Trained by Michael McCarthy and ridden by Umberto Rispoli, the bay colt by Midnight Lute got a mile and one eighth on firm turf in 1:46.89.

With pacesetter Dominant Soul grudgingly giving way at the top of the lane, Smooth Like Strait shook loose of eventual third-place finisher Field Pass in the final furlong to register his third graded stakes win and his third tally in his last four starts.

“I studied the race yesterday and this morning because I really wanted to win,” said Rispoli, who first rode him at Del Mar on Aug. 9.  “We know how he could be keen in the first part of the race, but Michael does such an amazing job, he's been relaxed.  You can see him behind horses now and he really understands to be calm.  Even when the horses reached me at the three eighths pole, I thought about what to do.  'Am I going to go or stay?'  At the top of the straight I knew I had the race in my hand.”

Most recently fourth as the favorite in a G2, 1 1/16-mile turf stakes at Churchill Downs Sept. 5, Smooth Like Strait was off as the 6-5 favorite in a field of nine sophomores and paid $4.60, $3.20 and $2.40.

Owned and bred in Kentucky by Cannon Thoroughbreds, LLC, Smooth Like Strait picked up $120,000 for the win, increasing his earnings to $397,823.  A winner of the G3 La Jolla Handicap two starts back on Aug. 9, Smooth Like Strait, who is out of the Flower Alley mare Smooth as Usual,  improved his overall mark to 10-5-1-1.

“I was a little disappointed in the way he ran at Churchill Downs,” said McCarthy.  “I didn't think there was a horse around that could beat him that day…This horse has come back, and he has not disappointed since we've been back (at Santa Anita).  I was a little skeptical about a mile and one eighth, but he won going a mile and a sixteenth in the La Jolla Handicap very well.

“All the stars aligned today.  He brought his A-game. Umberto rode him like the leading rider he is.  I'm very happy for the Cannons and everybody involved, even my groom Mike Munoz and Cleo Thomas, they do an excellent job with this horse…”

Scarto, who was unhurried while shuffled back a bit around the far turn, put in a determined late bid and proved second best under Juan Hernandez, finishing second by three-quarters of a length over Field Pass.  Off at 7-1, Scarto paid $5.60 and $3.60.

Field Pass, with Drayden Van Dyke up, was off as the second choice at 3-1 and paid $3.20 to show.

Fractions on the race were 23.60, 47.84, 1:11.74 and 1:35.14.

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Smooth Like Strait, winner of Del Mar’s GIII Cecil B. DeMille S. last December and GIII La Jolla H. in August, raced three deep on a hot pace and understandably tired to fourth as the favorite in the GII American Turf S. at Churchill Downs last time Sept. 5. The Cannon Thoroughbreds homebred worked five furlongs in 1:00 (5/37) for trainer Michael McCarthy at Santa Anita Oct. 9.

Field Pass (Lemon Drop Kid), meanwhile, sat a dream trip back in fourth in the American Turf, and, after leading in the stretch, settled for third. The 2020 GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks and GIII Kentucky Utilities Transylvania S. winner ships in from Kentucky for Mike Maker.

Farmington Road (Quality Road), runner-up in the Oaklawn S. and fourth in the split-division GI Arkansas Derby this spring, switched to grass with an allowance win when last seen at Colonial July 29.

The highly regarded Express Train (Union Rags), a double-digit length maiden winner at Del Mar last summer, makes his turf debut for John Shirreffs. He was second as the favorite in a Santa Anita optional tagger last time Sept. 26.

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