Thought Process leads all the way in Surfer Girl

ARCADIA, Calif. - Thought Process has amassed a tidy collection of wins in one-mile turf races at a vital time this summer and fall.

After winning a maiden race on Aug. 17 and the Del Mar Juvenile Turf on Sept. 7 during the summer, Thought Process extended her winning streak to three races in Sunday’s Grade 3 Surfer Girl Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Santa Anita.

The difference between the Del Mar wins and the Surfer Girl was the style of the victory. Thought Process tracked the leaders at Del Mar before taking the lead in early stretch. She led throughout the $100,500 Surfer Girl Stakes under jockey Hector Berrios.

Phil D’Amato, who trains Thought Process, expected Casalu to set the early pace in the Surfer Girl. When that failed to materialize, Berrios urged Thought Process to the front.

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“Hector, smartly, took the lead and went the shortest way around,” D’Amato said.

The win will likely lead to a start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 1 for Thought Process.

A heavy favorite on Sunday, Thought Process ($2.40) set an early pace of 23.17 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.69 for a half-mile, leading by a length.

The trailing pack of five could not get closer. Thought Process extended her lead to 4 1/2 lengths at the finish, and was timed in 1:34.34. She earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 84.

“I’ve been impressed with the way she’s doing things,” D’Amato said.

Casalu (9-1) closed from third to finish second, a half-length in front of 16-1 Tigerish. Tequilaandtherapy, and Ce La Vi Charli completed the order of finish. Jack’s Magic Girl was pulled up on the turn and was vanned off.

Thought Process, by Collected, has won 3 of 4 starts and earned $174,000. She was third in a maiden race on dirt at Del Mar in her debut on July 27.

Thought Process races for the partnership of Little Red Feather Racing, Madaket Stable, and the family of the late Brereton Jones.

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