Thunder Snow Clears Quarantine at Saratoga

Godolphin's Thunder Snow, back-to-back winner of the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) for trainer Saeed bin Suroor, cleared quarantine and enjoyed his first gallop on the Oklahoma training track July 24 in preparation for his start in the $1 million Whitney Stakes (G1) Aug. 3 at Saratoga Race Course.

Thunder Snow, third last out in the June 8 Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park, will make his first start at Saratoga in the nine-furlong Whitney, which boasts a talented list of possible contenders, including McKinzie, Mr. Buff, Preservationist, Quip, Vino Rosso, and Yoshida.

"Any group 1 is going to be a big race with good horses, but a group 1 at Saratoga is a very tough race to win, but I like my horse," said bin Suroor from Dubai. "I like how he is doing and liked his last piece of work. I think he will run his race."

The 5-year-old Irish-bred son of Helmet arrived at Saratoga Monday. On Wednesday, he had a light gallop over the Oklahoma training track with exercise rider Walter Lynch aboard under the supervision of Tommy Burns, traveling assistant for bin Suroor.

"We just intended to stretch his legs this morning to get him acclimated. He looked good and did it well," said Burns.

Multiple graded stakes-placed in North America, Thunder Snow is on target to make his fifth graded stakes start in the Whitney. His additional starts on the continent include a third in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs in November, a second in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) in September at Belmont, and a troubled effort in the 2017 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) where he was pulled up by jockey Christophe Soumillon, who has the mount in the Whitney.

Burns said Thunder Snow, the world's richest active racehorse with earnings of $16,511,476, has traveled well and should appreciate the additional furlong offered in the Whitney.

"He's traveled all around the world, and he's taken to it," said Burns. "There's never been any problems on that side. Overall, his form has never backed up between starts when he's gotten enough spacing between them. He's come out of the Met Mile very well, and we're happy with him. (The Met Mile) was definitely a bit short. We think he might be best at 10 furlongs, but he was still running at the end, and we hope that race has set him up for the Whitney."

In addition to the Whitney, Thunder Snow is possible for both the $750,000 Woodward Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) at 1 1/8 miles Aug. 31 at the Spa and the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Sept. 28 at Belmont, a 1 1/4-mile race that offers an automatic entry and a fees-paid trip to the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park.