Colonial: Frisky Thunder shortens up

Frisky Thunder, an upset winner at 19-1 going 1 1/8 miles, will make the unusual cutback to 5 1/2 furlongs for the $60,000 John Marsh Stakes at Colonial Downs.

The race is restricted to Virginia-bred and Virginia-sired horses.

A 4-year-old trained by James Murphy, Frisky Thunder returned from a six-month layoff to wire second-level open allowance company at Pimlico last month. Last year, he cut back from a mile to 5 1/2 furlongs to win his maiden by nearly five lengths at Colonial.

In contrast to Frisky Thunder's 3-for-7 record on grass, the remainder of the Marsh field is a collective 2 for 21 on turf.

That group is led by Side Buster, who tuned up for this by flashing speed and weakening to finish third in a $7,500 starter allowance turf sprint at Pimlico.