Bold Thunder breaks track record in Tampa Turf Dash

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Bold Thunder lived up to his name at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday with a thunderous track record-setting victory against an overmatched field of 10 turf sprinters in the $80,000 Tampa Turf Dash.

Under confident handling by Daniel Centeno, Bold Thunder shot to the lead from the outside at the start, cut out blistering fractions of 20.90 and 43.09 seconds while well clear of his pursuers, and then opened up even more to the furlong marker before coming home in 11.54 to be 3 1/4 lengths clear of late-running Green Mask. Green Mask passed Stormofthecentury for second by a length but the spotlight was on Bold Thunder, who covered five furlongs over a firm turf course in a record setting 54.63. The previous record of 54.92 was set in 2012 by Jr.’s Exchange.

Trained by Patricia Farro, Bold Thunder, who was making only his second start since September, returned $7.60 while winning for the sixth time from 18 career outings.

A 5-year-old son of Bold ‘n Flash, Bold Thunder earned $45,000 for the win, bringing his career earnings to $251,980.