Freshened Count Again Wins Thunder Road
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Count Again overhauls Subconscious to take the Thunder Road Stakes at Santa Anita.
Freshened since August, Count Again proved ready to go for trainer Phil D'Amato in the $100,500 Thunder Road Stakes (G3T) Feb. 5 at Santa Anita Park. With Flavien Prat riding him for the first time, Count Again defeated odds-on favorite Subconscious by a half-length in the mile turf contest.
"He had shipped all over Kentucky, Canada, and back, so I just thought he needed a little freshener," said D'Amato of the 7-year-old gelding.
Sniper Kitten forged to the front at the start of the Thunder Road, with Subconscious running about a length back in second after stumbling at the start. Prat settled Count Again into fourth around the first turn and onto the backstretch, not worried when Delaware came through on the rail, leaving Count Again next to last.
Count Again got rolling around the turn, and Prat gave him plenty of room by bringing him wide. Subconscious grabbed the lead in midstretch, but he couldn't hold off Count Again, who stopped the timer in 1:34.12.
"I've been on this horse a few times in the morning, so I got to know him," said Prat. "He was traveling super all the way around there, and when I asked him to run, he gave me a good kick."
Count Again, the 5-2 second choice, won his first race since the 2020 Seabiscuit Handicap (G2T), his first start in California and first under D'Amato's tutelage. He went 0-for-5 last year. The gelding's best efforts in between had been a couple of thirds in graded company. When trained by Gail Cox, Count Again captured the 2020 Singspiel Stakes (G3T) at Woodbine.
When asked what made the difference in the Thunder Road, D'Amato said, "I just think him being fresh and happy—and the leading rider doesn't hurt either."
D'Amato trains Count Again for breeder Sam-Son Farm and co-owner Agave Racing Stable. Sam-Son bred the son of Awesome Again —Count to Three , by Red Ransom , in Ontario, Canada.