Brinkerhoff thinks Restrainedvengence will improve this year, targets Thunder Road Stakes

Restrainedvengence won three stakes at three venues and earned $265,500 in a seven-race campaign in 2020. Trainer Val Brinkerhoff expects more this year, beginning in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at a mile on turf Feb. 6 at Santa Anita.

Recently, Restrainedvengence has been fitted with glue-on shoes as opposed to conventional shoes applied with nails. Brinkerhoff said the 6-year-old gelding has been “a lot better to handle.”

“He’s a lot more relaxed,” Brinkerhoff said. “I think he’ll be a better horse this year.

“We don’t have to fight him to shoe him anymore. He doesn’t give you any trouble.”

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Owned by Kelly Brinkerhoff and Bob Grayson Jr., Restrainedvengence has won 8 of 26 starts and earned $625,772. In 2020, Restrainedvengence won the Curribot Handicap at Sunland Park in March, the All American Stakes on turf at Golden Gate Fields in May, and The Downs at Albuquerque Handicap in September.

The $100,000 Thunder Road Stakes could be Restrainedvengence’s first graded stakes win. Restrainedvengence was third by a neck in the Grade 3 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs in August 2019 and second by a head in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita in October 2019.

Restrainedvengence was last of seven in the City of Hope Mile on Oct. 3 and has worked steadily for a return, including five furlongs in 1:01 on Monday.