Double Thunder Overcomes Troubled Trip to Win Sapling
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Photo: Ryan Denver/EQUI-PHOTO
Double Thunder wins the Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park
The most accomplished horse in the $201,000 Sapling Stakes Sept. 5 at Monmouth Park turned out to be the toughest one as well.
Double Thunder overcame traffic issues, tight quarters, and being pinned in until late in the one-mile feature for 2-year-olds, rallying for a half-length victory.
Racing off the pace inside under Paco Lopez, Double Thunder advanced between rivals entering the far turn and was able to collar American Sanctuary . Trained by Todd Pletcher, the Super Saver colt returned $4.20 to win as the favorite in the field of seven.
The winning time was 1:38.76 on a fast main track.
After breaking his maiden at Monmouth at first asking June 5, Double Thunder staged a last-to-first rally to win the Bashford Manor Stakes (G3) June 26 at Churchill Downs before a fourth-place finish in the Saratoga Special Stakes Presented by Miller Lite (G2) Aug. 14 at Saratoga Race Course.
Double Thunder and Paco Lopez after winning the Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park
The Sapling marked his first try around two turns.
"I don't think there was any concern about going two turns for the first time," said Anthony Sciametta, who oversees Pletcher's Monmouth division. "If you look at all of his races it seems like he breaks a little slow, a step slow, but he always seems to come running. So I didn't think that would be an issue. We were actually waiting for him to go longer.
"I'm pleased with the way he ran. He took dirt, he got in trouble by coming in and going out, so it wasn't the best of trips and he still won."
Owned by Phoenix Thoroughbred III, Double Thunder appeared to be boxed in by American Sanctuary entering the final turn after Under the Gun had set fractions of :23.87 and :47.54. Jockey Sophie Doyle then asked American Sanctuary to go, leaving room for Lopez and Double Thunder to shake free. American Sanctuary swept by Midnight Worker , who led six furlongs in 1:12.50 in mid-stretch and appeared to be on his way to victory before Double Thunder got rolling.
"It was a tough trip for sure," said Lopez. "They didn't make it easy for him. The horse broke well today. I was surprised he broke that well—maybe because he was on the rail. I don't know. I didn't want him that close early so I tried to get him to settle but it was a very rough trip.
"For a while I had nowhere to go. (American Sanctuary) had me pinned in. Finally, he made his move at the eighth pole and I was able to get some room to get my horse running. I think (American Sanctuary) moved a little too early, which was good for me. I had nowhere to go for a while. I was waiting on that horse and he finally went and that helped me."
Midnight Worker, also trained by Pletcher, finished another 2 1/4 lengths back in third. Chancellor Bay , Swift Tap , Buff Hello , and Under the Gun completed the order of finish.
Double Thunder was bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm and is the first foal out of the grade 3-placed Tapit mare Rattataptap . He is a half brother to a yearling colt and filly foal, both by Speightstown . The yearling is entered in the Keeneland September Yearling Sale with the consignment of Denali Stud, agent for WinStar Farm Bred & Raised. Rattataptap was bred to Yoshida for 2022.
A $248,850 earner, Double Thunder was a $60,000 purchase by agent Gerard Butler from Taylor Made Sales Agency's consignment to the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase.