Thought Process wins Buena Vista after seizing lead in stretch

ARCADIA, Calif. – Thought Process recorded a two-length win in Saturday’s Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes for fillies and mares on turf even though trainer Phil D’Amato rated her readiness at “90 to 95 percent” after a layoff of more than six months.

“I had to get her close to fit and keep her happy and she did the rest,” D’Amato said.

A three-time stakes winner in 2024 and 2025, Thought Process stalked pacesetter Grand Slam Smile to early stretch before taking the lead. She led by 1 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining.

Ridden by Hector Berrios, Thought Process ($4.60) ran a mile in 1:34.20 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 90.

Grand Slam Smile, the 2-1 second choice, led by as much as 1 1/2 lengths through fractions of 23.35 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.85 for a half-mile. Berrios said he waited with Thought Process as long as possible.

“I put her outside and she passed” Grand Slam Smile, Berrios said. “My filly proved strong. It was a good comeback.”

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Vibez (9-2) closed from fifth to finish second, a neck in front of Grand Slam Smile. Vibez was second by a neck in the Grade 3 Megahertz Stakes to Princesa Moche, who finished fifth in the $200,500 Buena Vista.

Vibez had the best finish of her career in a graded stakes on Saturday.

“She’s Grade 2-placed,” trainer Peter Eurton said. “She continues to develop. I think she ran her race. No regrets.”

My Perfect Wave was fourth in the Buena Vista, while Watchtower was pulled up in the stretch and walked to the stables. The race had six starters after Hannah Buckle was withdrawn earlier on Saturday.

Thought Process, a 4-year-old by Collected, races for the partnership of Little Read Feather Racing, Madaket Stables, and the family of the late Brereton Jones. Thought Process was bred by Jones, the governor of Kentucky from 1991 to 1995. The Jones family operates the prominent Airdrie Stud in Midway, Ky.

Thought Process has won 6 of 9 starts and earned $500,200. She has won 6 of 8 starts on turf, with the losses in Grade 1 races – a ninth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar in November 2024, and a third by 1 1/4 lengths as the 11-10 favorite in the Del Mar Oaks last August.

The Buena Vista was the first start for Thought Process since the Del Mar Oaks.

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