By Brian DiDonato
Midnight Storm (Pioneerof the Nile), last-out winner of the GI Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita June 4, will attempt to see out nine panels against a competitive group in Sunday's GII Eddie Read S. The dark bay was a convincing winner of the GII Del Mar Derby over this trip in 2014, but has proven a bit better going shorter since then. He was fifth as the favorite in this event last year off a runner-up finish in the Shoemaker and, prior to that, was seventh in Churchill's GI Woodford Reserve Turf Classic over 1 1/8 miles May 7 after setting the pace. He went right to the front and kept finding last time, however, earning a career-best 110 Beyer Speed Figure in the process. Flamboyant (Fr) (Peer Gynt {Jpn}) makes his first start since exceeding expectations when fifth, beaten less than three lengths, in the G1 Dubai Turf Mar. 26. He kicked off his 5-year-old campaign with a 46-1 shocker over Midnight Storm's super speedy stablemate Obviously (Choisir {Aus}) in the GII San Gabriel S. Jan. 2 in Arcadia, and added the GII San Marcos S. Feb. 6. Bolo (Temple City) bested Obviously in the GII Arcadia S. Feb. 13, but settled for second in the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile Mar. 12. He faded to 10th after pressing Midnight Storm early in the Woodford Reserve. Si Sage (Fr) (Sageburg {Ire}), who seems to excel at longer trips than this one, was last seen going pillar-to-post in the 1 1/4-mile GII Charlie Whittingham S. May 29. Patentar (Fr) (Teofilo {Ire}) completed a longshot exacta. Ohio (Brz) (Elusive Quality) could be poised to step into the spotlight. Out of the top two only once in his lone stakes attempt in seven South American tries, the bay ran away with a Mar. 5 optional claimer at Santa Anita He was a no-show over wet/fast ground in the rained-off GIII American S. May 6, but returned to turf and winning ways with a sharp stalk-and-pounce effort June 12. He will be asked to try beyond a mile for the first time.
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