Bust Another might be ready to pop in Thunder Rumble

Bust Another, who won a stakes the last time he sprinted on dirt against New York-breds, and Loki’s Vengeance, last year’s winner, are among the intriguing contenders in Sunday’s $125,000 Thunder Rumble division of the New York Stallion Series at Aqueduct.

The seven-furlong stakes goes as race 8 on a card that also includes the $100,000 Key Cents for 2-year-old statebred fillies going six furlongs.

Bust Another broke through for a career-best performance when he rallied from third to capture the seven-furlong Mike Lee by 3 1/4 lengths at 19-1 in May at Belmont Park. He is winless in four subsequent starts, but is coming off a career-top 91 Beyer Speed Figure for a third-place finish against open company in a second-level optional $25,000 claimer at Parx Racing.

The 5-year-old Loki’s Vengeance won last year’s Thunder Rumble by a half-length off a 36-day layoff and is winless in four starts since. Trained by Mike Hushion, he will be making his first start since mid-July.

The field also includes Empire Dreams, beaten a half-length as the 3-2 favorite in last year’s Thunder Rumble, and the 3-year-old Jet Black, who has been first or second at distances from 6 1/2 furlongs to one mile in his last three starts.

◗ Filibustin, winner of her two starts by a combined margin of 13 lengths, will try to remain undefeated in the Key Cents (race 6). Six of the fillies who chased Filibustin in the seven-furlong Joseph Gimma on Oct. 2 are back to take another crack at the Greg Sacco-trained daughter of Bustin Stones.

Among her new challengers are Kim Royale, a 6 1/4-length winner in her career debut last month, and Tainted Angel, cutting back in distance after leading at the six-furlong call of the one-mile Maid of the Mist.

Thunder Rumble, Race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Bust Another, by Bustin Stones

Last 3 Beyers: 91-83-82

◗ Trainer Mike Pino does well with 3-year-old sprinters challenging older horses following a break of 31-60 days, going 16 for 56 (29 percent) with a $2.06 return on investment.

Loki’s Vengeance, by Frost Giant

Last 3 Beyers: 81-92-86

◗ His best performance in four starts this year came in his lone race against statebreds, when he finished second in the six-furlong Affirmed Success.

◗ Hushion is 5 for 20 with horses returning from a break of 61-180 days going seven furlongs to a mile.

Empire Dreams, by Patriot Act

Last 3 Beyers: 90-83-88

◗ This 5-year-old makes just his third start of the year and is shortening to seven furlongs for the first time since he was narrowly beaten as the favorite in this race last fall. He won the 2015 Commentator going a one-turn mile.

Jet Black, by Freud

Last 3 Beyers: 86-84-84

◗ Tries stakes company for just the second time in his 14-race career. Has run three solid races in a row facing second-level optional $40,000 claimers.