Thought Process shows development with Gamely victory

ARCADIA, Calif. – There were times earlier in her career when Thought Process reached the front in major stakes only to be caught.

Not on Monday at Santa Anita.

In her third career start in a Grade 1, Thought Process had a perfect trip in the $301,500 Gamely Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Thought Process stalked pacesetter Rashmi for nearly a mile before taking the lead in early stretch. She pulled away from an accomplished field to win the most important race of her career by a convincing 2 3/4 lengths.

“She’s much better,” said winning jockey Hector Berrios.

Rate Berrios as an expert on the development Thought Process. Berrios has ridden the 4-year-old filly in seven of her 10 starts, and in six of her seven wins.

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Thought Process ran to expectations in the Gamely Stakes, the track’s leading annual turf race for fillies and mares. Thought Process ($4.80) was favored and was timed in 1:47.51.

From the start, Thought Process was well-placed behind 7-2 Rashmi, the second choice in a field of eight. Rashmi, the winner of the Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita in March, set a fair pace of 23.80 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 48.45 for a half-mile, leading Thought Process by as much as two lengths.

Berrios urged Thought Process closer to Rashmi on the turn.

“On the last turn, I asked her a little bit and she responded well,” Berrios said.

Thought Process took the lead with more than a furlong remaining and maintained her advantage. The outcome was a reverse of her first two starts in Grade 1 races. She led in the stretch of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar in 2024, and in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks there last August only to fade and finish ninth and third in those races. Berrios was aboard for the loss in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf.

“Now, she’s much better,” Berrios said.

In the Gamely, Rashmi finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of Take A Breath, the winner of two Grade 3 races at Santa Anita since mid-March.

The Gamely was Rashmi’s first start in a Grade 1 since a fourth-place finish in the American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies last December.

“I have to respect the winner,” said Kazushi Kimura, who rode Rashmi. “My horse ran huge.”

Take A Breath was followed by Hang the Moon, Vronti, Public Assemby, May Day Ready, and A Thousand Miles.

Thought Process, who is by Collected, has won 7 of 10 starts and earned $680,200. A four-time stakes winner, Thought Process is trained by Phil D’Amato for the partnership of the family of the late Brereton Jones, the Little Red Feather Racing partnership and Madaket Stable.

The Gamely Stakes was the second win in as many starts this year for Thought Process. She won the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes at a mile on turf for fillies and mares by two lengths on Feb. 28.

D’Amato said in the weeks after the Buena Vista that he would wait to run Thought Process in the Gamely.

The long-range plan worked to perfection.

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