Winkfield right up Even Thunder's alley

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The last time Even Thunder raced in New York, he won the King’s Swan Stakes going six furlongs over Aqueduct’s main track on Dec. 2.

After an ill-fated attempt to stretch out in distance in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park, Even Thunder is back sprinting and back in New York for Monday’s $100,000 Jimmy Winkfield Stakes at Aqueduct.

Even Thunder, a gelding by Even the Score, was one of six 3-year-olds entered Friday for the Jimmy Winkfield, which tops the Presidents Day card.

Len Green’s D J Stables purchased Even Thunder privately following the gelding’s victory in a stakes at Canterbury in September. He was a pace-pressing winner over Petrov in the King’s Swan. Petrov came back to run second in the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn.

Even Thunder went to south Florida, where he finished ninth of 11 in the Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream.

“We bought him with the hopes he’d go long,” trainer Joe Orseno said. “It looked like he wasn’t really ready for it.”

The Winkfield came up with only six horses, but it is a competitive race. Bavaro, who also failed to stretch out in the Gander Stakes, is back to a distance at which he is 2 for 2. Completing the field are Caledonian, the Lost in the Fog winner; Sal the Turtle, a three-time winner; Shoe Loves Shoe, a debut winner; and the maiden Jamminwithbrandon.