Society's Thunder looks tough on turf or Tapeta

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – There’s rain in the forecast for Sunday, and Society’s Thunder’s ability to handle turf and Tapeta might be to his benefit in the eighth race on the stakes-less Woodbine card.

A $14,000 claim last August by trainer Dominic Polsinelli, Society’s Thunder peaked in his last two outings against Ontario-sired allowance opposition. The consistent 5-year-old beat nonwinners-of-two rivals in front-running style two back in a seven-furlong main turf tilt, while leaving next-out winner El Cohete in his wake.

Against nonwinners-of-three types two weeks ago, Society’s Thunder awaited room in a stalking position at the quarter pole before making up ground to win the six-furlong Tapeta sprint by daylight with a career-high 84 Beyer Speed Figure.

Society’s Thunder moves up to open allowance company with a $32,000 claiming option on Sunday. Jeffrey Alderson retains the mount. The race is scheduled for seven furlongs on the main turf, a course that has been used sparingly this year because it doesn’t dry as well as it used to.

Among the others in the 11-horse field are Causin’ Mayhem, Forest Buzz, Blast in the Snow, and There’s No Joe.

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The win-shy Causin’ Mayhem has spent an eternity trying to clear the first allowance condition, while often competitive. The son of perennial leading sire Into Mischief finished third in both of his appearances at the meet on grass, which he much prefers over Tapeta. Apprentice Fraser Aebly will ride him again for trainer Layne Giliforte.

Forest Buzz enjoys both surfaces and should be a factor with the promising apprentice Pietro Moran aboard for trainer Sid Attard. The son of Old Forester wired Ontario-sired allowance runners on the main course in the spring of 2023 in the best of his three turf races. He was a flat fifth in his penultimate start going 7 1/2 furlongs around two turns on the inner course and was back in his element most recently when third in a seven-furlong Tapeta sprint.

Blast in the Snow beat two next-out winners when scoring at this level in his only start this year on the main turf May 26. He was protected then by trainer Catherine Day Phillips and competes for the $32,000 tag this time with Ryan Munger back in the saddle.

There’s No Joe figures to lead the way under Luis Contreras, who was aboard when he finished a close third after setting a lively pace in a similar spot July 21. Katerina Vassilieva trains the durable veteran.

The Marty Drexler-trained duo of The Great Oz and Hey Cue are each returning from a long layoff, and both might need one before getting back into the swing of things.

The Great Oz has worked regularly on the Tapeta for his first start since April 4 at Gulfstream, when he was re-claimed by Drexler for $35,000 off a fading sixth in a Tapeta route.

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