Frisky Thunder confirms affinity for local turf course

Frisky Thunder s fondness for the turf course at Colonial Downs turned out to be more important than Storm Play s apparent class edge in Saturday s $50,000 Daniel Van Clief Stakes.

The 6-year-old Frisky Thunder, who has now been first or second in 8 of 10 lifetime starts over the grass at Colonial, rallied from sixth to score a one-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile Van Clief.

Earlier at the meet, Frisky Thunder had been second sprinting and third against open stakes company going a mile.

Ridden by Sheldon Russell for trainer Tim Keefe, Frisky Thunder ($8.60) completed the distance in 1:44.12 while winning for the eighth time in 25 lifetime starts.

Dubai Review nosed out Hugo for second.

Storm Play, the even-money favorite on the basis of a pair of fourth-place finishes against Grade 3 competition earlier this season, set the pace and led until the eighth pole, but then tired to finish fourth.