Bright Thought Back in Form in John Henry
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Bright Thought turned the tables on his heavily favored stablemate Big John B in the $200,000 John Henry Turf Championship (gr. IIT) Sept. 28 at Santa Anita Park with his first win since March 2013.
With Tyler Baze aboard for the ownership team of Marjorie Dye and Alex Venneri, 7-1 shot Bright Thought took command from pacesetter Big Kick with a quarter mile to run in the 10-furlong grass test and held well through the stretch for a three-quarter-length victory over Finnegans Wake. The winning time was an excellent 1:58.27 over firm ground.
Phil D'Amato trains the winning son of Smart Strike as well as third-place finisher Big John B, the 9-10 choice in the field of nine. Languishing at the rear of the pack to the quarter pole, the recent Del Mar Handicap (gr. IIT) winner had too much to do under Mike Smith and finished 2 1/4 lengths behind Bright Thought.
The victory was the fourth in six tries on the Santa Anita turf for Bright Thought, whose last victory came in the San Luis Rey Stakes (gr. IIT), going 12 furlongs in a sizzling 2:22.72 at Santa Anita when trained by Jorge Gutierrez. Off for nearly eight months after that, the 5-year-old ridgling son of Hat Trick had lost seven races in a row but was coming off a good third in the Del Mar Handicap Aug. 23 after pressing the pace.
"This is the second race I've had him. I've probably had him for two months," D'Amato said. "He's just a classy horse. Last time I don't think I used his best asset, his speed, to full advantage. This time I wanted to sharpen him up and use that speed, and Tyler used it perfectly today."
The John Henry is not a Breeders' Cup "Win & You're In" event, but D'Amato indicated he would look at the Breeders' Cup Nov. 1 at Santa Anita. Bright Thought was last of 10 when returning from the layoff in last year's Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT), which was probably too short for him.
"We'll see how he comes out of it, but he loves this turf course," D'Amato said of possible Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) start. "It was a great time (1:58.27), so we'll see."
As for Big John B, D'Amato said, "This will set him up for that mile-and-a-half (Breeders' Cup Turf) as well. Mike Smith jumped off and said, 'mile and a half.' The horse came with a run and he ran well. I always thought a mile and quarter was probably as short as I'd go with Big John. A mile-and-a-half, a mile-and-three-eighths is right in his wheel house."
Bred in Kentucky by Postum Farm and Venneri Racing, Bright Thought is out of the Smart Strike mare Smart Thought.
Always prominent Sunday, Bright Thought settled in second, about a half length behind Big Kick, who stepped lively fractions for the distance of :23.66, :46.75, and 1:10.30 as the first two separated from the rest of the field. Bright Thought took over on the far turn after reaching the quarter pole in 1:34.27 as the several rivals drew closer.
But Bright Thought kicked clear to a two-length advantage in the stretch and did not give in under Baze as Finnegans Wake, making his first start for Peter Miller, emerged to chase him home with a willing effort for Joe Talamo. Big John B, saving ground at the back, came out rounding the final bend and was running late while no threat to the winner.
"Being on the lead with Big Kick didn't bother me at all," said Baze, who was aboard Bright Thought for the first time. "I have watched Bright Thought's replays and I've been watching him race for a year-and-a-half. I've been trying to get on him for over a year-and-a-half. So when they gave me the opportunity to get on I had complete confidence in him."
Starspangled Heat was next, followed by Irish Surf, Bench Light, Big Kick, Si Sage, and Unbridled Command.
Bright Thought recorded his fifth win from 15 lifetime starts and boosted his earnings to $339,161.
He carried 119 pounds and paid $16.40, $8.60, and $4.20 as the fifth choice. Multiple graded winner Finnegans Wake, fifth in the Arlington Million (gr. IT) last time for previous trainer Dale Romans, returned $6.80 and $4 and was part of a $105.40 exacta. Big John B was $2.20 to show.
Poshsky scratched.