Double Thunder overcomes slow start to win Bashford Manor
East Coast invader Double Thunder from the powerful Todd Pletcher stable rallied into a collapsing pace from last to defeat Vodka N Water by 4 3/4 lengths in Saturday’s 120th running of the Grade 3, $150,000 Bashford Manor for 2-year-olds at Churchill Downs. Glacial was another head back in third.
Ridden by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, Double Thunder clocked six furlongs in 1:11.17.
Pletcher, who celebrated his 54th birthday Saturday, won the Bashford Manor for the third time after wins by Limehouse in 2003 and Circular Quay in 2006.
Double Thunder hopped at the start and was last as Lansdowne and Tapped Off set the pace through fractions of :21.00 and :45.30. Glacial, the filly Shesgotattitude and Whatstheconnection also were in close pursuit down the backstretch.
Leaving the turn, Double Thunder commenced his rally as Glacial took over with 56-1 longshot Knocker Down on his right hip. Despite having to close from the back of the pack, Double Thunder had clear sailing down on the inside, swung out at the three-sixteenths pole and easily ran down the weary Glacial, who was edged by a closing Vodka N Water for the place.
“I didn’t think we would break as slow as he did so we had to adjust a little bit after the start,” Velazquez said. “Once I got to the quarter-pole I had a lot of confidence in him and thought we had a big shot. He did everything professionally today. Warming up, he didn’t handle going with the pony as well so I warmed him up by himself. I knew there would be a lot of speed in the race and wanted to keep him close – just not last. You don’t expect a 2-year-old to handle things like that as well as he did. He took dirt and handled it well and I think he can move forward a lot from that.”
Double Thunder’s triumph was worth $88,350 for owner Aamer Abdulaziz Ahmed’s Phoenix Thoroughbred III Ltd. and increased his bankroll to $116,850 with a perfect record in two starts. His debut win came June 5 at Monmouth Park.
A $60,000 yearling buy, Double Thunder is a 2-year-old son of Pletcher’s 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver out of the Tapit mare Rattataptap. He was bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm LLC.
Double Thunder returned $10.20, $6 and $3.80 as the 4-1 fourth betting choice. Vodka N Water, under Jose Ortiz at 7-1, paid $7 and $4.20. Glacial paid $3.40 to show under Joe Talamo at 3-1.
Knocker Down, 5-2 favorite Red Run, Shesgotattitude, Lansdowne, Whistlewhileyoumow, Whatstheconnection and Tapped Off completed the order of finish. Rising Outlaw was a late scratch.