Thomas opts to try Hiding in Honduras going longer in allowance

An attempt at a new distance has resulted in Hiding in Honduras starting in an allowance race at Santa Anita on Sunday and not Saturday’s Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes.

Hiding in Honduras scored a 9-1 upset in his graded stakes debut in the Grade 2 Mathis Mile for 3-year-olds on turf at Santa Anita on Dec. 28, rallying on the inside to win by a neck.

Trainer Jonathan Thomas and owner Robert LaPenta nominated Hiding in Honduras for the Thunder Road Stakes at a mile, but have opted for Sunday’s race at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

“A mile and an eighth is more up his alley,” Thomas said.

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Hiding in Honduras, who has won 2 of 3 starts, drew the outside post in a field of 12 in the allowance race.

“I don’t know if it’s an easier race than the Thunder Road,” Thomas said. “We need to see how he runs. It’s more of a learning experience.”

Regardless of which race was chosen this weekend, Thomas expressed concern about trying the gelding racing against older horses after starting against 3-year-olds in the Mathis Mile.

“That 3-year-old to older horse move has always been a bit of a challenge to see where you stack up,” he said.

The allowance race field includes Uncle Happy, the winner of an allowance race at Del Mar on Nov. 29 in his last start; and Balladeer, Henry Adams and Genius Jimmy, who were second through fourth in an allowance race at a mile on turf on Jan. 11. Genius Jimmy was beaten 1 1/4 lengths as the 2-1 favorite despite a troubled trip.

The allowance race is the last of nine races on a program that begins at 11 a.m. Pacific. First post time is earlier than normal to complete the program before Super Bowl kickoff at 3:30 p.m.

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