Strong work in blinkers may send Double Thunder to Breeders' Cup Juvenile
ELMONT, N.Y. – An equipment change may have helped Double Thunder work his way into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Double Thunder, a two-time stakes winner who finished second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland two weeks ago, was equipped with blinkers Thursday morning when he worked four furlongs in 49.81 seconds at Belmont Park. Double Thunder worked in company with the debut-winning 2-year-old filly Sweet as Pie, getting his last quarter in 24.54 and galloping out five furlongs in 1:03.06 and six furlongs in 1:15.85 over a relatively slow-playing training track.
Afterward, trainer Todd Pletcher said he liked the effect the blinkers had on Double Thunder and he would have discussions with the principals of Phoenix Thoroughbred, which owns Double Thunder, to determine whether to run in the Breeders’ Cup or perhaps await something like the Kentucky Jockey Club on Nov. 27 at Churchill Downs.
“We thought we saw some improvement, a little more focus with the blinkers on,” Pletcher said. “We’ll see how he bounces out of it and get with the connections and see. He moved himself in that direction a bit more.”
Pre-entries for the Breeders’ Cup are due Monday and will be announced Wednesday.
Double Thunder, who won the Bashford Manor at Churchill and the Sapling at Monmouth, was away slowly from the gate under Paco Lopez in the Breeders’ Futurity. He weaved his way through traffic, rallying four wide into the lane, and finished second, 4 1/4 lengths behind Rattle N Roll.
“He seemed a little distracted in his last race, he kind of ran in spots,” Pletcher said. “I was watching the race and thinking to myself this horse needs blinkers. Paco came back and said he acts like he needs blinkers.”
Pletcher’s confirmed Juvenile starter, Commandperformance, worked five furlongs in 1:01.06 on Friday with the maiden colt Misbehaved. Under Irad Ortiz Jr., Commandperformance started just off the flank of Misbehaved, drew on even terms by the quarter pole after three-eighths in 36.76, and came home in 24.30, finishing two lengths in front of his mate at the wire. Commandperformance galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.63, seven-eighths in 1:28.26, and pulled up a mile in 1:43.09.
“I thought he went really well, finished up strong, galloped out with good energy,” Pletcher said.
Annapolis, the Pilgrim winner who is pointing to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf for Pletcher, worked five furlongs in 1:01.89 over the Belmont training track. He got his last quarter in 24.61 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.57. Annapolis, with Ortiz up, worked outside the debut-winning filly Nest, who is pointing to the Tempted Stakes here on Nov. 5.
“He’s a horse that has gotten better in his dirt works,” Pletcher said of Annapolis. “I think today’s track was a little more demanding, and he’d probably prefer a little harder dirt surface than we got today. From a conditioning standpoint we got what we wanted, he got a good blow out of it.”