Om Never in Doubt in Twilight Score

K.B. Sareen's Om did exactly what he was supposed to as the 1-2 favorite in the $200,000 Twilight Derby (gr. IIT) Oct. 24 at Santa Anita Park.



The speedy 3-year-old son of Munnings   started on top and finished on top to score by 2 1/2 lengths, ahead of English import Mister Brightside, who was making his U.S. debut. Royal Albert Hall came in third, another half-length back.



It was Om's second straight graded score for trainer Dan Hendricks, coming after his breakthrough in the Del Mar Derby (gr. IIT) Sept. 6.



Under a confident ride from jockey Gary Stevens, the colt clocked fractions of :23.15, :46.55, and 1:10.49 through six furlongs as he held a 1 1/2-length advantage, then edged away from the field in the stretch. Under a hand ride from Stevens, the pair hit the wire in 1:45.90 for 1 1/8 miles on firm turf.

"When we got to the three-eighths pole, it was pretty much a replay of the Del Mar Derby," Stevens said.



The winner paid $3, $2.40, and $2.20 across the board. Mister Brightside, off at 9-1 stalked the pace and held second to return $6.40 and $4:40, while Royal Albert Hall brought $3.40 to show.

"It looked like he did it easier than Del Mar," Hendricks said. "He seemed to mature a little more and he's coming into his own at the right time of year."

Hunt closed to finish fourth, followed by Soul Driver, Second Summer, Boone Docks, and Verraco, to complete the order of finish. Daddy D T and Ground Rules were scratched.



Om bumped his earnings up to $394,500 and now has a 4-1-1 record from eight career starts. He was bred in Kentucky by Lavin Bloodstock, Bernie Sams, and Bill Farish from of the Tabasco Cat mare Rare Cat.

Hendricks said after the race that he plans to run Om next in the Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) at Del Mar Nov. 14, again at 1 1/8 miles.