A Grade 2 winner over the course two starts back, Richard Mandella-trained Subconscious heads a field of six older horses going one mile on turf in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Thunder Road Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.
Most recently fifth, beaten 2 ¼ lengths in the G1 Hollywood Derby going 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar Nov. 27, Subconscious pressed the pace two starts back en route to an authoritative 1 ¼ length win going the same distance in the G2 Twilight Derby on Oct. 31, which was his third consecutive win.
Owned by LNJ Foxwoods, Subconscious took a one mile turf allowance in similar fashion three starts back on Oct. 2 and with Juan Hernandez back in the saddle, he looks to be the horse to beat as he shortens up a furlong for the Thunder Road. A 4-year-old gelding by Tapit, Subconscious has raced exclusively on grass while compiling an overall mark of 7-3-1-1.
A sharp third, beaten a half length at 5-2 in the G3 San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on dirt Dec. 26, Phil D'Amato's Ready Soul gets back to his preferred surface as he seeks his first stakes victory in what will be his 14th career start. Ridden by Kent Desormeaux in the San Gabriel, he'll get the services of John Velazquez in the Thunder Road. Owned by Slam Dunk Racing, Old Bones Racing Stable, LLC and Michael Nentwig, Ready Soul, a 5-year-old gelding by More Than Ready, has two wins from three tries over the Santa Anita turf.
D'Amato's Count Again, who kept good company while winless in five starts last year, has been idle since running fifth to multiple Grade 1 winner Mo Forza in the G2 Del Mar Mile (turf) on Aug. 21 and looms dangerous with Flavien Prat taking over for the first time.
A 7-year-old gelding by Awesome Again, Count Again was bred in Ontario, Canada, by his co-owner Sam-Son Farm. A graded stakes winner in both Canada and Southern California, Count Again has two wins from four tries at one mile on turf and will likely try to rally from well off the pace on Saturday. Owned by Sam-Son Farm and Agave Racing Stable, Count Again has four wins from 13 overall starts and earnings of $403,665.
GRADE 3 THUNDER ROAD, WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS
IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 1 of 9 Post time 12:30 p.m. PT
1. Subconscious—Juan Hernandez—124
2. Sniper Kitten—Christopher Emigh—124
3. Count Again—Flavien Prat—124
4. Delaware—Mike Smith—124
5. Ready Soul—John Velazquez—122
6. Hurricane Cloud—Umberto Rispoli—122
First post time for a nine-race card which will include three graded stakes on Saturday is at 12:30 p.m. Admission gates open at 10:30 a.m.
