Got Thunder debuts with high expectations
Quick workouts, an expensive price tag, and an attractive pedigree have led to high hopes for the 2-year-old colt Got Thunder, who will have his debut in a maiden special weight race at six furlongs on Sunday at Del Mar.
Trained by John Sadler for West Point Thoroughbreds and Michael Talla, Got Thunder is part of a field of seven in the day’s fourth race, the first leg of a 20-cent pick six with a mandatory payout.
Got Thunder, by Arrogate, is a half-brother to 13-time stakes winner Heart to Heart, who won his debut and ended his career with 15 wins in 41 starts and earnings of $2,035,090.
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Got Thunder was purchased for $750,000 at a 2-year-olds in training sale in Florida in April.
“He’s a late 2-year-old, which is where we’re at,” Sadler said. “We took our time.
“We think he’s a nice prospect. This is a starting point, and he’s trained well.”
Got Thunder worked five furlongs from the gate at Santa Anita in 59.60 seconds on Nov. 13 and in 59.80 on Nov. 20. Flavien Prat has the mount Sunday.
“Prat has worked him twice,” Sadler said. “He has speed, but he can also relax nicely. It looks like we’re one of many good-looking prospects in there.”
Sadler also starts Moment of Peace, a Tapit colt bought for $230,000 in January 2020 who joined the stable in October. Moment of Peace will have his debut Sunday, but does not have the same fast workouts as Got Thunder.
“He looks like a two-turner,” Sadler said. “He’s going to be running on at the end.”
rainer Bob Baffert has two first-time starters in Sense of Dominance, a colt by Mohaymen who drew the rail, and Newgrange, a colt by Violence who has worked quickly in recent weeks at Santa Anita.Phil D’Amato starts Mo Them Down, by Mohaymen, who has had a series of quick workouts at Los Alamitos and Del Mar this month.
The other runners in the field are Blue Dog, a first-time starter by Carpe Diem trained by Karen Headley, and Godsend, who was fifth in his debut on Oct. 22 at Santa Anita for trainer Doug O’Neill.