Farhaan pointing to Shoemaker Mile in June

ARCADIA, Calif. - The former claimer Farhaan is bound for a Grade 1 race in June after winning the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Farhaan, claimed for $40,000 at Saratoga last summer, won his first graded stakes and the fourth stakes of his career in the $100,690 Thunder Road Stakes for turf milers.

Trainer Phil D’Amato on Sunday said Farhaan will be nominated for the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes on May 28 and the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on turf on June 3.

“I’d be leaning toward the Shoemaker,” D’Amato said.

The Thunder Road was Farhaan’s second start for D’Amato, preceded by a second in an optional claimer on turf on March 9. Last year, Farhaan was unplaced in three graded stakes in New York and Maryland when trained by Carlos Martin after being claimed.

Farhaan races for Matt Schera. An 8-year-old horse by Jazil, Farhaan began his career in England and was based mostly in New York with Kiaran McLaughlin from 2013 until he was claimed last summer.

“It was a good claim,” D’Amato said. “He’s a well-bred horse and he’s been taken well care of through his career. That’s why he’s still running at 8.”

Farhaan has won 9 of 31 starts and has earned $482,929. He won three minor stakes in 2013 and 2014.

In the Thunder Road, Farhaan was confidently ridden by Tyler Baze. Farhaan ($18.80) closed from last in a field of seven to win by three-quarters of a length over Perfectly Majestic. Bolo, the 6-5 favorite, led in the stretch, but faded to finish third, beaten two lengths.

D’Amato said he has three other candidates for the $200,000 Whittingham at 1 1/4 miles on turf – Big John B, Syntax, and Up With the Birds.

Big John B, 8, was second in the Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup on dirt April 2. Syntax was second in the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes on April 22. Up With the Birds was the 2013 Horse of the Year in Canada and was third in an optional claimer on April 23.

D’Amato said the multiple stakes winners Vyjack and Obviously recent returned to his stable after being rested over the winter.
Vyjack won the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile on turf last October and was seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile here last November. Obviously has not raced since winning the BC Turf Sprint in November. Both are expected to resume racing during the summer.

“We’re looking forward to Del Mar,” D’Amato said.

The Del Mar summer meeting runs from July 19 to Sept. 4.