The NY Stallion Series: Thunder Rumble
December 5, 2021 13:00
AQU Race #3 $150.000 7 Furlongs
NY-Bred 3YO+ 121/124 Lbs (Plus Penalties)
Track Record-1:20.34 (A Right Charley-2012)
Stakes Record-1:21.33 (Dang-2016)
The lucrative NY Stallion Series takes center stage at AQU on Sunday and for the 13th time, NY-bred males aged 3yo+ will compete for $150.000 in the 7 furlong Thunder Rumble. D J C Racing Stables leads all trainers with his two victories in this race while I. Ortiz Jr (2013, 2017) and J.L. Ortiz (2015, 2016) lead all other jocks with their two wins apiece.
This year’s Thunder Rumble has drawn six combatants who haven’t won a stakes race in the last year. In fact, The Bounder and Sexy Back are the only stakes-winners in the field. Here’s the field for Sunday’s Thunder Rumble from AQU:
#1 The Bounder (The Sidley Stud/D. Davis 121): 0-9 with a pair of place finishes to his credit in his sophomore season. Did win in a similar spot back in October of his juvenile season, but he hasn’t been able to find the winner’s circle since. Maybe the return to seven furlongs coupled with the drop back to NY-bred company helps his cause, but he just seems entirely too inconsistent to endorse with much conviction.
#2 Triple Cocked (Gdp Inc/L. Saez 121): Three year-old colt changed-up his tactics in most recent start and can’t complain with a wire-to-wire victory. Not sure he beat the same caliber horses he faces here, but the fact he enters with some momentum can only be seen as a positive. That run was his first start on the main course in just over a year, so there may be some additional improvement coming. Dangerous if he can stretch that speed from his latest just one more furlong.
#3 Fire And Rain (Sir Edward Estates/Mar. Garcia 124): Speaking of speed, this guy enters off of a fine runner-up effort in a G3 over at BEL where he set legitimate fractions on the front end. He should find this group more to his liking and anything close to that effort would make him a strong contender here. Seems to be hitting his stride recently and looks primed for a monster effort. The Pick.
#4 Local Dude (D J C Racing Stables/J.R. Velazquez 124): With three potential pace factors to his inside, this race looks to set-up nicely for the 4yo gelding. He should be able to break and get to the rail and get pace to run at as he tends to want to take his time getting into stride before making a charge. He made up a little bit of ground in the G3 last time out and if he can get a bit closer earlier, feels like he’ll be running late.
#5 Triomphe (Lanfranco Stable/J. Lezcano 124): Returned from a 53-week layoff to beat ALW foes at FL and faces a litmus test in this spot. That win was his first against non-claiming foes, so he will be asked to prove his quality here. Worked-back really well and may just prove to be more than a one-hit wonder; however, going to make him prove his last wasn’t a fluke and will take a stand against him in this spot.
#6 Sexy Back (Night Rider Stables/M. Franco 124): Which horse will we see: the one who sits close or the one who drops back? The answer to that question may determine if he finds himself in the winner’s circle or he could run up the track. This will be his 4th crack at this level this season, so it’s kind of now or never for this guy. Believe the seven panels are right up his alley and if he gets the right trip, he could be the biggest threat in the field.
Final Analysis: 3-6-4 in the NY Stallion Series: Thunder Rumble. Good luck to all of the contestants.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
