Bright Thought Returns Sunday

Bright Thought returns to the races after a four-month absence in Sunday’s $75,000 Thunder Road Stakes at one mile on turf. A 5-year-old Hat Trick ridgling, Bright Thought set a record of 2:22.72 for a mile and a half on turf when he won the Grade II San Luis Rey Stakes in March of last year, a mark since eclipsed.

But things went downhill after the San Luis Rey, as Bright Thought was a well-beaten last in both the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 2 and the Citation Handicap on Nov. 29.

“The Breeders’ Cup was very tough,” trainer Jorge Gutierrez said. “It took a lot out of him . . . He sored up on me and had to go through that, so I started from the beginning again to make sure I got him right.”

The field for the Thunder Road: Peace and Justice, Brice Blanc; Dubai You X Y Z, Alonso Quinonez; Bright Thought, Rafael Bejarano; Dr Action, Victor Espinoza; Teaks North, Aaron Gryder; Tom’s Tribute, Mike Smith; County Lineman, Joe Talamo; and Joelito, Corey Nakatani.