Classy and speedy Midnight Storm, a winner of four of five starts over the seaside grass course, including victories in the 2014 Del Mar Derby and this summer in the Eddie Read Stakes, will be heavily favored to locate the winner’s circle again Sunday in the Grade II $200,000 Del Mar Mile.

 

The five-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile, owned by Venneri Racing and Little Red Feather Racing and trained by Phil D’Amato, is in peak form after two straight triumphs, in the Grade I Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita June 4 and the Eddie Read July 17. Rafael Bejarano again has the call on Midnight Storm who has won seven of 17 starts and is on the threshold of the $1 million mark in earnings, at $981,110. Midnight Storm is topweighted at 124 pounds.

 

Taking on Midnight Storm will be Om, 2015 Del Mar Derby winner who will have Gary Stevens in the boot at 120 pounds; Brazilian-bred Ohio, 117 with Brice Blanc; Little Curlin, 117 with Santiago Gonzalez, and Ambitious Brew, 117, Flavien Prat.

 

Post time for the first of ten races will be 2 p.m.