Santa Anita: Peace and Justice expected to set pace in Thunder Road Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Peace and Justice may prove unbeatable on the front of Sunday’s $75,000 Thunder Road Stakes at Santa Anita.

If Peace and Justice can be coaxed into reserving some of his speed through the first half-mile of the one-mile turf race, he can win his stakes debut. If Peace and Justice goes too fast, he is likely to be caught by the seven other runners.

Whether jockey Brice Blanc can contain Peace and Justice is unknown to trainer John Shirreffs, who may be holding his breath for much of the Thunder Road Stakes.

“I don’t know,” he said Friday morning. “Hopefully, with maturity, he’ll rate a little bit as far as that goes. He’s very aggressive. Around the barn, we call him ‘The Beast.’ ”

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Peace and Justice is a 4-year-old War Front colt who races for Justice Family Racing. Peace and Justice has won three of five starts, including his last two races over a mile on turf – an allowance race by 5 1/4 lengths Jan. 5 and an optional claimer by a head Feb. 14. Peace and Justice led by as many as 10 lengths in the Feb. 14 race and was fully extended to hold off the South American stakes winner Di Giorgio.

Shirreffs is hopeful that Peace and Justice can do well enough Sunday to be considered for the $400,000 Shoemaker Mile here June 14.

From his inside draw, Peace and Justice is expected to lead.

“It would have to be something really fast to get in front of him,” Shirreffs said. “You don’t want to fight the horse.”

The chasing pack includes the stakes winners Bright Thought, Dr Action, Teaks North, Tom’s Tribute, the stakes-placed runner County Lineman, and the longshots Dubai You X Y Z and Joelito.

Sherriffs said he considered the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on March 8 for Peace and Justice but said the timing from the Feb. 14 race was too close.

Tom’s Tribute finished seventh in the Kilroe, beaten 3 1/2 lengths by Winning Prize. Tom’s Tribute was ridden by Gary Stevens and had breathing difficulties in the race, said trainer Jim Cassidy.

“Last time, Gary said he flipped his palate,” Cassidy said. “I changed equipment on him. He’s been fine.”

Tom’s Tribute can run near the front, but Cassidy said there is no need to engage Peace and Justice. He thinks Peace and Justice will tire on the lead.

“We’ll just leave him alone,” he said. “He’ll come back. He’s a runoff anyway.”

The Thunder Road Stakes is the first start of 2014 for Bright Thought, who won the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes over 1 1/2 miles on turf in March 2013 in his stakes debut. Bright Thought fought minor injuries following that race and did not start again until the Breeders’ Cup Mile last November, finishing last of 10. He made one more start last November, finishing last of seven in the Grade 2 Citation Handicap over 1 1/16 miles on turf at Hollywood Park.

The autumn campaign is one that trainer Jorge Gutierrez said he regrets.

“We just didn’t do things right,” Gutierrez said. “He’s going into this race better than his last two races. He’s fit, and he’s doing good. I think going farther, he’ll be better. I think a mile might be too short.”