Thunder Road – Grade III
1 Mile Turf Graded Stake Purse $100.000 Four-Year-Olds And Upward. At SA

1st     Atomic Eclipse                 Spankys Barn         15-1 (HRP) 5-1 (SRF)

Nine-year-old Atomic Eclipse, richest horse in the race, also proved himself the classiest horse in the race as he settled down into a comfortable sixth-place stalk from start to far turn, then started a nicely timed run that saw him catch the leaders just before the wire and win going away by three-quarters of a length. Win number 18 in a 56-race career that could never end until he ages out. Gelded before he ever raced. What a waste.

2nd      Kidding                   High Voltage                     5-1 (HRP) 4-1 (SRF)

I chose Kidding to win this because he has been doing so well in grade 2 races which I think are a very tough level of races to compete in, especially at age eight, and what happens? He gets beaten by a nine-year-old. Well. I have to be the last person in this game to discount old age. Somehow, I keep going. I blame the Trophy Wife. Kidding stalked along just in front of Atomic Eclipse to the far turn, moved just ahead of him and was run down by that one down the stretch. Nice challenge between two old-timers.

3rd      Noble Conquest           Riggins Racing               9-2 (HRP) 4-1 (SRF)

As I said in the preview, lightly raced Noble Conquest is just learning to race and doing a great job of it. Here is his graded race debut and it is an impressive third within a length of winning. He came out of the gate with the lead and battled for the lead all the way into the stretch and was just caught by a couple of old-time closers in the final strides. This is the guy to take over as the old-timers pass the torch

4th     Showable Set          Angelos Stable                        7-1 (HRP) 4-1 (SRF)

Showable Set ended his three-race win streak with a close up fourth against some nice company, losing by just a length. Looks like his seven-year-old season is going to be a successful one just as the others collecting a check here just finished the last couple of years

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES