Subconscious returns, figures to set pace in Thunder Road
ARCADIA, Calif. – You only get one chance to make a first impression, and Santa Anita is attempting something in that realm Saturday, kicking off a nine-race card with the first of three graded stakes, the Thunder Road, a significant prep for the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile four weeks hence.
It’s not often the first half of the old-school double, and first leg of the Player’s Pick 5, is a Grade 3, $100,000 race, but the racing office thought it worth running the mile race for six older grass runners early to get eyeballs focused on the track straight away.
Regardless of when the race is carded, it’s an important one for Subconscious, who is looking to get back to the form he had last summer and fall after being gelded. Subconscious rattled off three straight wins, including the Grade 2 Twilight Derby over this course, before his streak ended with a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby on Nov. 27 at Del Mar.
“He ran as good as he could three times in a row,” said Richard Mandella, who trains Subconscious for the Roth family’s LNJ Foxwoods stable. “It all caught up to him in his last race. He came up a little empty. So we gave him a little break.”
Subconscious has had six works since returning to the tab Dec. 22, including two that were the best of the morning at the distance. He drew the rail, and regular rider Juan Hernandez – who teamed with Mandella to win the San Vicente last Saturday with Forbidden Kingdom – is back aboard.
Being as he’s fresh, drawn inside, and facing a field without much early lick, Subconscious is well positioned to lead early and set a soft pace, though his best races have been when he can stalk and pounce.
Trainer Phil D’Amato doubles up with Count Again, returning from a 5 1/2-month layoff, and Ready Soul.
Count Again, third in last year’s Kilroe Mile, has a wicked turn of foot that benefits from, but is not reliant solely on, having pace at which to run. The meet’s leading rider, Flavien Prat, takes over for the first time.
Ready Soul, 2 for 3 over this course against weaker, was third most recently in the Grade 3 San Gabriel, which was rained off the turf on opening day Dec. 26.
Delaware moves back out to his preferred trip after a solid prep Jan. 1 in the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez going 6 1/2 furlongs. That was his first start in nearly five months and first for trainer Paddy Gallagher.
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Hurricane Cloud, English-bred and exclusively French-raced, makes his first start in this country and for John Sadler. He had some promising runs early in his career against group company, but stalled last year against inferior. Perhaps a change of scenery will be of benefit.
Sniper Kitten is ambitiously spotted for his first race on this circuit after running for a $20,000 to $40,000 claiming tag in three of his last four races, but he might be closest to Subconscious in the early going.