Midnight Storm wins $100,000 Native Diver at Del Mar
DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) Midnight Storm romped to a victory in the $100,000 Native Diver Stakes for older horses by 7 3/4 lengths at Del Mar on Sunday.
Ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith, Midnight Storm ran nine furlongs on turf in 1:51.59 and paid $5.20, $3.40 and $2.60.
Point Piper returned $5 and $3.80, while Hard Aces was another head back in third and paid $2.60 to show.
Trained by Phil D'Amato, Midnight Storm took the lead shortly after the start and never was threatened under Smith, who replaced Flavien Prat when that jockey was unseated breaking from the starting gate in the third race.
The victory, worth $60,000, increased Midnight Storm's career earnings to $1,341,110, with nine wins in 20 starts.
In the $100,000 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes for 2-year-olds, Term of Art took the lead in the final sixteenth of a mile to win by 1 1/4 lengths.
Ridden by Joe Talamo and trained by Doug O'Neill, Term of Art ran a mile in 1:41.69 and paid $15.80, $7.20 and $4.40.
Vending Machine returned $12.80 and $6, while 8-5 favorite Sword Fighter was another three-quarters of a length back in third and paid $2.60 to show.
The victory, worth $60,000, increased Term of Art's career earnings to $111,105 for owner Calumet Farm, with two wins in five starts.