NY Stallion Series- Thunder Rumble ($125.000 Purse)
AQU- For Three Year Olds and Upward Foaled In NY
Seven Furlongs on the Dirt
November 22, 2025
The Thunder Rumble, part of the NY Stallion Series, will take place on Saturday at AQU and it will run for a $125.000 purse. Eight NY-breds are entered to go seven furlongs on the main track. This race first appeared on the schedule in 2009 for just $75.000, and peaked at $150.000 in 2021. We had a dead heat last year, the second time that is has happened in the race’s history, and the involved horses were Extreme Flyer, for La Canada Racehorses, and Furious Logic, for Asgar. Extreme Flyer is no longer with us, having raced for the final time on Wednesday at TUP in a cheap claimer for Family Racing. Furious Logic is still active, but has only raced three times since the win and has not been in another stake. Interestingly (perhaps), six of the eleven horses that ran in the Thunder Rumble last year have been deactivated. Let’s hope this year’s field has more longevity. Here they are!
1- Speedy McGreedy (Luz International, ridden by D Davis)- A veteran of 26 races, but only three of them have seen him visit the winner’s circle. This is his first race with Luz International, who claimed him for $32.000 in late September. He had been on a good run of form while running on the turf for his previous trainer, but most of his starts have been on the dirt, which is where the trainer returns him to here. This has been a good distance for Speedy McGreedy.
2- Leary (Santan Stables, ridden by J Lezcano)- Ever since Santan Stables claimed Leary for $15.000 last year, the gelding has exclusively run with the NY-bred condition. This includes a handful of stakes, such as the last time out in the $200.000 Hudson. Ran third in that one, however even though this is a lesser purse that is offered, it seems to be a stronger field. Could get a piece of the purse, but tough to put on top.
3- Morethan Meetsthe Is (Night Rider Stables, ridden by J J Castellano)- May have been forgotten about at the betting window in the Hudson, where he went off as an exorbitant longshot. Ended up running fourth of five, and should get a little more consideration this time around. He’s been in a few graded races this year, but after his second place effort in the Grade 3 Triple Bend Stakes at SA, he hasn’t been effective. Perhaps that can change now.
4- Sanity (Maletto, ridden by C Cedeno)- Began the year running very well in dirt sprints, but would be moved to the turf in July at PRX. Won that race, which led to the trainer thinking very big in his two starts that followed. Ran a frustrating fifth at the $3,500.000 Nashville Derby, within a length of the win, but left the trainer with no check. Only disaster followed here in the Grade 2 JC Derby afterward, so Sanity is back to the main track. He’s very appealing in this field.
5- Crocodile Star (Mo Mentum Farm, ridden by R Santana Jr)- The vast majority of this one’s 25 career starts have been on the turf, with a strong run of consistency while he was running for Fractious. Now, he will make his second start for Mo Mentum Farm, after the trainer claimed him for $17.500 from Onlineracingclub.com. Mo Mentum didn’t stay with Crocodile Star’s status quo, and moved him to the dirt for a $50.000 CD claimer that he won. Off of that, he’ll get a chance to show what he can do here, and he is no stranger to NY-bred stakes.
6- Valance (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by K Carmouche)- Valance is the highest earner in this field, with those earnings approaching $500.000. That has come despite just three wins in his 21 career races. To do that, you have to be hitting the board regularly, and Valance has been a regular third place finisher. However, in 2025, we have not seen much of this one, running only four times with minimal earnings. Maxmillion Farm has tried to run him graded in the two races that he has had him with little to show for it. After a lengthy rest period, Valance will try to start living up to that $100.000 purchase price.
7- Legalise (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by J Rosario)- Performed respectfully in KYD preps this year, and while he did not make that field, he was in the PRK two weeks later. After running near the back there, he was moved to the turf, then back to the dirt. Entered in graded races, then overnights. A lot of action, but no wins on the year. He’s hit the board four times, including last time out, coming from the back to place third in the Grade 3 Perryville, a seven furlong race where he earned a 100 SRF. If that is repeated, he might get that first win of 2025. I just don’t know if I trust him.
8- Adrenaline (Nakamura Stables, ridden by Jam Rodriguez)- Went up against Legalise and finished a couple spots ahead of him but was also a non factor. Adrenaline has otherwise been a lot more consistent, with three wins out of ten starts, and finishing in the money in eight of those races. Hasn’t won any of the stakes that he has been in, but did run third in the Grade 3 ONT Derby. It’s his first time running under a mile since February, but he’s been very good at exactly a mile, so that won’t matter.
Prediction: 4-8-7-2
— NS
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded