Thorne House moves to turf after pair of wins

The rapid improvement of Thorne House in recent months has left trainer Dean Pederson eager to see what the two-time winner can accomplish in his turf debut in Monday’s ninth race at Santa Anita.

“The best thing he has is talent,” Pederson said.

Thorne House was second in his first start, which came in a maiden special weight race at Santa Anita in June, and perfect in two starts at Del Mar, winning a maiden special weight race for California-breds at six furlongs on Aug. 7 and an allowance race for statebreds at 6 1/2 furlongs on Sept. 2.

On Monday, Throne House starts in an allowance race at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course. Abel Cedillo, who has been aboard for three starts, has the mount on Thorne House, who is by Clubhouse Ride.

“I don’t think the turf should be a problem,” Pederson said. “Clubhouse Rides run on most anything.”

:: Get ready for Santa Anita racing with DRF PPs, Clocker Reports, Picks, and more. Shop Now.

Thorne House led throughout when he beat maidens, and stalked the early pace on Sept. 2. Pederson expects the gelding to be toward the front in a field of eight on Monday.

“He’s been a horse that we’ve worked behind horses,” Pederson said. “A few times when he’s worked by himself, we’ve tried to get him to relax and finish.

“Eventually, you’d like to see him go two turns. He’s a smart colt and very cooperative. It’s probably his biggest attributes.

“In a perfect world, you’d like to get him a little off the pace like we did last time.”

Owned by Harris Farms and Slugo Racing, Thorne House could develop into a stakes runner, according to Pederson.

“It’s going to be exciting, a young horse with the potential that he’s got,” he said. “Hopefully, Monday will be a step in the right direction.”

Cowboy Charlie, the winner of two high-priced claimers at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar, and Grazen Sun, the winner of a maiden special weight Sept. 25 at Los Alamitos, are other runners in the field who have shown speed.

The ninth race is the second of two allowance races for statebreds on the hillside turf course Monday.

:: DRF Bets members get FREE DRF Past Performances - Formulator or Classic. Join now!

Square Cat, second in an allowance race at five furlongs on turf Sept. 11 at Del Mar, is a contender the seventh race. Trained by Brian Koriner, Square Cat closed with a sharp rally Sept. 11 to finish a length behind Creative Peak.

Square Cat will have his debut on the hillside turf course Monday and should be a factor from off the pace. In Vronsky’s Style, seventh in the same race as Square Cat on Sept. 11, is likely to be part of the pace.

This is the first start on turf since April for the speedy Moose Mitchell, who won six-furlong races on dirt at Del Mar for $25,000 claimers on Aug. 14 and $40,000 claimers on Sept. 10.

Moose Mitchell was a game second in his turf debut in an allowance race at six furlongs on the flat course at Santa Anita in February, but last of 10 in an allowance race on turf in April after a rough trip.

Following Monday’s program, racing resumes Saturday at Santa Anita.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.