While he's not one of the three acknowledged "monsters" signed up to contest the Aug. 30 Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar, he is a Mammoth, and shares a history with top California runners that just might make him a contender in the $1-million race.
Midnight Mammoth, a Midnight Lute gelding, was claimed two years ago by trainer Craig Dollase for owner Jeffrey Sengara for $50,000 out of a March race at Santa Anita Park. If that sounds familiar, it should. The Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada-based Sengara claimed a gelding named Budroyale for $50,000 at Santa Anita in February 1998.
Budroyale, a full brother to two-time Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Tiznow, would go on to win five graded stakes for Sengara, and run second in the Breeders' Cup Classic, Santa Anita Handicap (G1), and Hollywood Gold Cup (G1). He earned $2.8 million in his career, approximately 90% of which came for Sengara after that claim.
On the final day of 2002, Sengara claimed the gelding Bluesthestandard for—stop me if you've heard this--$50,000 at Santa Anita. Bluesthestandard won three graded stakes (Palos Verdes Handicap, G2; Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup Handicap, G2; and Texas Mile Stakes, G3) for Sengara and wound up being a millionaire in purse earnings.
Which brings us to Midnight Mammoth, haltered by Dollase for Sengara in March 2023. He immediately won his next race, and then got good last spring and summer, winning in succession an allowance optional claimer at Santa Anita, a starter allowance at Los Alamitos Race Course, and then the 1 1/2-mile Cougar II Stakes (G3) at Del Mar by 10 1/4 lengths over the highly regarded Reincarnate. He enters the Pacific Classic, a Breeders' Cup Challenge race offering the winner a fees-paid berth into the Breeders' Cup Classic, off an allowance optional claiming score and a strong second to Skippylongstocking in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G2).
The Pacific Classic is shaping up as one of the top races of the year in North America as Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Journalism, easy San Diego Handicap (G2) winner Nysos, and 2023 champion 2-year-old male and three-time grade 1 winner Fierceness are expected to start.
Sengara, an enthusiastic owner and lover of horses, is looking forward to giving his forward-moving runner a shot. He hopes some of the stardust from Budroyale and Bluesthestandard rubs off on Midnight Mammoth.
"That $50,000 seems to be a magical number for me, and we're hoping this guy is similar," he said. "Unfortunately, sometimes you have to wait 22 years between those great $50,000 claims.
"These hard-knocking geldings have been so good to us, and when Craig called about Midnight Mammoth, we recognized some patterns from earlier in his career where we thought if we tried some things, he might give us way, way more. You don't know where the ceiling is. And we got lucky and he has moved forward. Craig has done a magnificent job with him, and I think he's going to run great in the Classic."
Midnight Mammoth is a 6-year-old gelding out of the Vindication mare Taker Home, and was bred in Kentucky by Pedro Gonzalez and Jorge Herrera. Although Midnight Lute was a two-time winner of the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), his progeny have proven proficient at all distances. Champion Midnight Bisou won multiple grade 1 events going two turns and placed in two editions of the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). Shakin It Up, bred on the same cross as Midnight Mammoth, won both the seven-furlong Malibu Stakes (G1) and the 1 1/16-mile Strub Stakes (G2). Champion 2-year-old male of 2002 Vindication is by Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, providing bottom to Midnight Mammoth, who has won at distances ranging from a mile to a mile-and-a-half.
"We loved his breeding," said Dollase, explaining what tipped him toward claiming Midnight Mammoth for Sengara. "Then I watched the mechanics of the horse and how he moved. I liked his pattern, and he looked like he had some upside to him."
Unfortunately for the connections, Del Mar decided not to put the Cougar II on its schedule this year. Dollase said they were planning to use that race to prepare Midnight Mammoth for the Pacific Classic. The gelding was working toward a start in last year's Pacific Classic after his Cougar score when he came up with a minor issue and needed time off.
"I believe in my heart he could have won last year's [Pacific] Classic the way he beat Reincarnate in the Cougar, but that's racing for you," Sengara said. "You have to do right by the horse and not mess with the racing gods."
With the Cougar not being run this year, Dollase decided to give Midnight Mammoth a freshening after the May 26 Hollywood Gold Cup.
"We were disappointed they took the Cougar away this year, but we have a fresh horse that loves the surface, and we know the 10 furlongs isn't going to be a problem," Dollase said. "It's a tough field, but it's a horse race, and anything can happen. Our horse is coming in off good works. Armando Ayuso is riding him back and knows him well. We're going to lead him over there with confidence."
It will be a tall task, trading punches with the likes of classic winner Journalism, last year's Travers Stakes (G1) winner Fierceness, and the brilliant Nysos. But Midnight Mammoth enjoys getting into his races early, and from there has the stamina to be dangerous.
"We hope Mammoth can run his race and be in a position turning for home to win it, because his heart can carry him a long way," said Sengara, who owns just a couple of horses racing in California and a couple more in Vancouver. "It's an honor and a blessing to be playing at this level again. It's very gratifying to be part of this."
Don't discount that $50,000 magic. Lightning might just strike a third time.
