Maiden Watch: Thunderously Makes Noise in Debut

This column highlights the performances of 2-year-old maidens who have made no more than five starts and who either sold for more than $500,000 at public auction, have siblings that are graded/group winners, or have dams that are graded/group winners. BloodHorse research shows maiden winners, in particular, who meet these criteria are more likely to go on to be graded stakes winners.

When a young horse breaks its maiden in a sprint, guesswork is often required to forecast whether the prospect can stretch out.

However, there are no staying-ability uncertainties surrounding four of the six Maiden Watch qualifiers from this past week. Touch of Fire , Epic Desire , Powered by Family , and Thunderously  all scored their initial victories in two-turn routes.

What's left for them to prove next is their class when matched against fellow winners. Touch of Fire, Powered by Family, and Thunderously appear destined for stakes, either immediately or upon clearing their first-level allowance conditions.

Thunderously One of Two Jan. 10 Maiden Graduates for Mott

The 3-year-old talent in trainer Bill Mott's stable was on display Jan. 10 at Gulfstream Park when the Hall of Famer unveiled a pair of good-looking debut winners. Chief Wallabee  was the first to have his picture taken, capturing the fourth race over 7 furlongs, while Thunderously won over a longer 1 1/16-mile distance in the eighth race two hours later.

The focus of this space is on Thunderously, as he qualifies under Maiden Watch criteria, being out of 2018 Mrs. Revere Stakes (G2T) winner Princess Warrior . Though she fared best on grass, Thunderously has taken after his sire, Gun Runner  , in being effective on dirt.

Thunderously took kickback while stalking the pace in his unveiling, kicked into gear on the second turn, and drew clear of the opposition to win by 5 lengths over more seasoned opposition. His time of 1:45.87 for 1 1/16 miles on a fast track earned him an 86 Equibase Speed Figure and a superior 87 Beyer Speed Figure.  

"He won easier than the other one," Mott said, contrasting Thunderously and Chief Wallabe. "Whether he was going to get there the first time you run him or not, at the end of the day, I thought this was a two-turn horse. He trained like a two-turn horse."

Thunderously was not the most imposing colt of the nine 3-year-olds who competed in the eighth race, perhaps contributing to his relatively modest $300,000 sales price as a yearling for a horse of his pedigree. Regardless, there is no mistaking his efficient stride and ability. He paid $9.60 to win off a series of fast works at Payson Park.

Jockey Junior Alvarado was aboard Thunderously, as well as Chief Wallabee and two other winners on Saturday's card.

"I was very high on them," Alvarado said of the two Mott trainees. "I got to work them a few weeks ago and I was very excited about both of them. I was just hoping that Bill didn't put them in the same race, because I didn't want to lose either horse.

"We went to the 7-furlong race with Chief Wallabee, and he ran a big race, very impressive. (Thunderously) was still a question mark for me. I like this guy a lot, and I remember telling (Mott) that in the morning. A mile and a sixteenth on this track is very demanding for any kind of horse to go two turns, especially for the first time out. I couldn't ask for anything better than what he did today. I think he was very impressive."

Gun Runner, the 2017 Horse of the Year, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2024. He was the third-leading sire of 2025 by progeny earnings and stands for a $250,000 fee this year at Three Chimneys Farm near Versailles, Ky.

All three of Princess Warrior's starters are winners, led by $139,125 earner Xena , a daughter of Constitution   who placed in the 2024 Zia Park Oaks.

Evan Trommer Jr., CDM Bloodstock, and Crocket Farm bred Thunderously in Kentucky. Case Clay Thoroughbred Management bought Thunderously for owner Wathnan Racing from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment to the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Homebreds Shine at Fair Grounds

Also on Saturday, Powered by Family  triumphed going away at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, rallying from last to score by 4 lengths. She broke sluggishly, as she did with a debut fourth at Churchill Downs in her lone start last year as a 2-year-old, but made up ground in a hurry down the stretch. She passed seven horses through the stretch under Jose Ortiz, clocking a mile and 70 yards on a muddy track in 1:42.61. That time earned the Cherie DeVaux trainee a 93 Equibase Speed Figure and an 84 Beyer Speed Figure.

A homebred 3-year-old daughter of Quality Road   for owners St. Elias Stables and West Point Thoroughbreds, she is out of a grade-1 winning mare Icon Project  and is a half sister to grade 2 winner Fashion Business . She paid $6.40 to win in a race that was moved from the grass to the main track due to rain.

A couple of days earlier in New Orleans, trainer Brad Cox successfully debuted Juddmonte's homebred Touch of Fire , who sped away from the opposition to romp by 7 lengths. A bit keen entering the first turn under Marcelino Pedroza Jr., the Constitution   colt settled down the backstretch to sit in a tracking position. Given his cue on the second turn, he took over, pulling away while racing a bit greenly under a busy ride.

He hit the wire with a final time of 1:43.85 over a firm turf course, generating a 98 Equibase Speed Figure and an 81 Beyer Speed Figure.

Touch of Fire ($10.20) is fond of racing on the grass, as was his dam, 2015 Prix de la Grotte (G3) winner Mexican Gold .