Farhaan storms past Perfectly Majestic in Thunder Road

Next to last turning for home, 8-year-old Farhaan, in his second Southern California start, wheeled four-wide turning for home under Tyler Baze and flew home to take Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Thunder Road Stakes by three quarters of a length. Trained by Phil D’Amato, Farhaan, who until March 9 had been based in New York, sizzled a flat mile on turf in 1:33.18.

“I really didn’t expect to be that far off the pace,” said D’Amato.“But he kinda broke flat footed and it worked to his advantage. Bolo (heavily favored at 6-5) moved to attack Sawyer’s Hill at the half mile pole and it worked out for us. He came home in racehorse time.”

Second, beaten 3 ¼ lengths by multiple graded stakes winner Prospect Park in a 1 1/8 miles turf classified allowance March 9, Farhaan was off at 8-1 in a field of seven 3-year-olds and up and paid $18.80, $8.20 and $4.20.

“The first time I rode him, I got boxed in behind Prospect Park,” said Baze. “I had all the confidence in the world today. I worked him coming into this race and I thought he’d run big. I’m hoping he can build on this.”

Owned by Mathew Schera, Farhaan, a full horse at the age of eight, is a Kentucky-bred son of 2006 Belmont Stakes winner, Jazil and was making his 31st career start in the Thunder Road. With the win, he improved his mark to 9-3-3 and with the winner’s check of $60,000, he increased his earnings to $482,929.

Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Perfectly Majestic broke from the rail, was taken in-hand while fifth going into the Club House turn and was a close fourth turning for home while three-wide. With a good turn of foot, he overhauled Bolo and made the lead momentarily inside the sixteenth pole, but was immediately collared by the winner and finished second, 1 ¼ lengths in front of Bolo.

Off at 7-2, Perfectly Majestic paid $4.60 and $2.80.

Bolo, who was ridden by Mike Smith, appeared to have a perfect tracking trip behind Sawyer’s Hill but was no match for the top two late and paid $2.60 to show.

Fractions on the race were 23.23, 46.61, 1:09.98 and 1:21.75.