Comebacking Neptune’s Storm Rates Huge Chance In American

ARCADIA, CA – Comebacking Neptune’s Storm, idle since September 7, will garner plenty of attention as he heads the $100,000 American Stakes (G3) at 1 mile on turf this Sunday at Santa Anita.

For 3-year-olds and up, the American attracted a wide open field of six.

With 2 wins from his first 7 starts when trained by William Morey, Neptune’s Storm blossomed in the care of Richard Baltas, winning his first start for him, the ungraded Singletary Stakes at 1 mile on turf, on April 28, 2019. A winner of the Hill Prince Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park 8 starts back on October 5, 2019, Neptune’s Storm notched his second graded stakes win 3 races back by taking the San Francisco Mile (G3) on June 14, 2020.

Subsequently third, beaten 1 length by classy United in the Eddie Read Stakes (G2) July 26, Neptune’s Storm went to the sidelines following a fourth-place finish in an ungraded 1-mile turf stakes September 7, 2020 at Kentucky Downs.

A 5-year-old gelding by Stormy Atlantic, Neptune’s Storm, who has been transferred to Peter Miller for his comeback, has a pressing style that has enabled him to avoid trouble and has resulted in a total of 10 finishes in which he has run first, second, or third dating back to his win in the 2019 Singeltary.

Owned by John Rochfort, Saul Gevertz, Lynn Gitomer, Mike Goetz, Michael Nentwig, and Daniel Weiner, Neptune’s Storm is 19-6-3-6 and is the leading money earner in the field with $848,085.

Hall of Fame conditioner Neil Drysdale, who is winless in 36 starts at the current meet, has a big shot to get off the schneid with Majestic Eagle, who won the 2019 American and will be ridden on Sunday by Mario Gutierrez.

Second, beaten 1 1/4 lengths in his first start of the year, the Daytona Stakes (G3) at 6 1/2 furlongs on turf May 29, Majestic Eagle, who had been idle since November 28, should improve with the race under his belt and a return to a route of ground. A game neck winner of the 2019 American, Majestic Eagle, a 6-year-old gelding by Medaglia d’Oro, is 11-1-4-1 at 1 mile on turf.

Owned by Rave Green Racing, Majestic Eagle brings an overall mark of 28-3-7-3 and earnings of $340,541.

THE GRADE III AMERICAN STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

1. Tiz Plus—Trevor McCarthy—122
2. Restrainedvengence—Tyler Baze—124
3. Neptune’s Storm—Flavien Prat—122
4. Border Town—Mike Smith—122
5. Majestic Eagle—Mario Gutierrez—122
6. Sash—Juan Hernandez—122