Ireland: Thundering Nights holds off Santa Barbara in Pretty Polly Stakes
Thundering Nights won her first Group 1 race, fighting off a strong bid from Santa Barbara to win the Pretty Polly Stakes on Sunday at The Curragh in Ireland.
Four-year-old Thundering Nights gave 3-year-old Santa Barbara 12 pounds and still turned her back with a determined finish after Santa Barbara came into the final 50 yards with all the momentum. Thundering Nights and jockey Shane Crosse raced in an ideal position, sitting behind Cayenne Pepper while two paths off the inner running rail as Epona Plays set a mild pace in this 1 1/4-mile contest run around a gentle right-handed turn.
Crosse took his mount wide once entering the lengthy home straight and Thundering Nights responded with a powerful burst, but she drifted out in the last half-furlong after going clear. Santa Barbara, who saved ground racing in midpack under Ryan Moore, rallied forcefully, switching inside Thundering Nights when her rival hung to the outside, but the younger horse never got on terms with her older rival, who galloped out well in front after fending off the challenge.
In addition to giving so much weight, Thundering Nights was racing just 23 days after a strong second-place finish in the Grade 2 New York Stakes at Belmont Park. Her performance Sunday in a solid field flattered the form of the New York winner, Mean Mary, who has the Beverly D. at Arlington as a major summer goal.
Joseph O’Brien trains Thundering Nights, an improving daughter of Night of Thunder and Cape Castle, by Cape Cross. Thundering Nights had done her best work on softer courses but handled good ground Sunday. Cayenne Pepper put in a decent effort to finish third but was beaten 2 ½ lengths by Thundering Nights, a 3-1 shot on the North American tote.