As winter turned to spring this 12 months, Rock Your World was a “wise guy” favorite for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) while None Above the Law was toiling against fellow California-breds in minor stakes events on both turf and dirt.
Their paths cross on Halloween in the Twilight Derby (G2T), a 1 1/8-mile challenge on the Santa Anita turf.
Rock Your World will try to complete a turnaround from a skid that started with a 17th-place finish in Louisville while None Above the Law will try to prove he belongs in open-company races against top rivals.
Rock Your World arrived at Churchill Downs after profitable the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) in simply his third profession begin. He was undefeated, with the primary two wins approaching the turf, however primarily was eradicated in a typical Kentucky Derby visitors muddle shortly after the gate opened.
The Candy Ride colt, trained by John Sadler, then was sixth in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) and, after nearly three months off, placed second in the Shared Belief Stakes on the dirt at Del Mar Aug. 28.
None Above the Legislation, a California-bred Karakontie gelding, is the most experienced and accomplished runner in the 10-horse Twilight Derby field. The Peter Miller trainee makes his 15th career start and 11th as a 3-year-old.
From that, he has six wins, including his last two starts—the seven-furlong Real Good Deal Stakes for California-breds on the Del Mar dirt course July 30 and the Del Mar Derby Presented by Caesars Sportsbook (G2T).
In the Del Mar Derby, None Above the Law and jockey Joe Bravo used most of the 1 1/8 miles of firm turf to get the job done, rallying along the rail from mid-pack to win by three-quarters of a length in a moderate upset.
Other than East Coast invader Wootton Asset , most of the others in the Twilight Derby will have to improve on recent outings at Del Mar, including the Del Mar Derby.
The cleverly named Wootton Asset, a Wootton Bassett colt, comes west for trainer Graham Motion after finishing third in both the Kent Stakes (G3T) at Delaware Park and the Bald Eagle Derby at Pimlico Race Course after which profitable the New Kent County Virginia Derby (G3T) at Colonial Downs.
The Virginia Derby was solely Wootton Asset’s third profession win, together with two victories that opened his account at secondary tracks in France.
Additionally of be aware within the Twilight Derby lineup:
Flashiest , by Mizzen Mast , reported second in the Del Mar Derby. Earlier in the year, he shipped east to finish 11th in the Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1T) after winning the Runhappy Oceanside Stakes to open the Del Mar summer meeting.
“When we shipped to Saratoga, the experience was too much for him,” trainer Leonard Powell said of Flashiest. “He got really hot in the paddock and he got to be a handful for the jockey. The whole thing was a bit overwhelming.”
Zoffarelli , a Zoffany gelding, won the La Jolla Handicap (G3T), then was sixth in the Del Mar Derby. Hudson Ridge , an American Pharoah colt, was second in the La Jolla, ninth as the favorite in the Del Mar Derby.
Cathkin Peak , an Alhebayeb gelding, won at both Del Mar and Santa Anita as a 2-year-old but is winless this year, most recently finishing sixth in the La Jolla and fourth in the Del Mar Derby.
Trainer Phil D’Amato said Cathkin Peak was not able to show his best effort in the Del Mar Derby.
“He had traffic problems, nowhere to go,” D’Amato said. “Hopefully, we’ll regroup. He’s ready for the test even though this will be an even tougher race.”
Jungle Cry , a son of Animal Kingdom , has been consistently tough at Golden Gate Fields however was seventh within the Oceanside in his solely earlier journey down the California coast. And Beyond Brilliant , a Twirling Candy colt, tackles stakes company for the first time while starting from the outside stall.
Entries: Twilight Derby (G2T)
Santa Anita Park, Sunday, October 31, 2021, Race 10
- Grade IIT
- 1 1/8m
- Turf
- $200,000
- 3 yo
- 5:00 PM (native)
