Former Pletcher assistant Thomas continues winning ways

Trainer Jonathan Thomas continued his impressive winning ways at Gulfstream Park Friday, saddling first-time starter Tillie’s Lily ($3.60) for a thoroughly dominating 8 1/2-length victory in the fifth race.

The 37-year-old former assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher ran his record to 4-for-4 during the Summer Meet after saddling three winners and two runners-up from five starters during the Spring Meet. The success of the former steeplechase jockey has come primarily in maiden special weight races, including Tillie’s Lily’s win in a five-furlong race that was taken off the turf and run over a sloppy main track. The Thomas-trained Catholic Boy debuted with a two-length victory in a 7 1/2 –furlong event for 2-year-olds Friday, while stablemate Righteous Ruth, a daughter of multiple graded-stakes winner Rutherienne, graduated in her second start in a mile turf event for fillies and mares July 9.

”We’ve been very fortunate with the clients we have and the horseflesh. We have a very, very good team,” Thomas said. “I learned when good people put things in your direction, you make the best of them. I’m just trying to make the best of them.”

Thomas assisted Pletcher at Belmont Park for six years, before venturing to Ocala, where he began breaking and training 2-year-olds for clients while gradually building a stable of 28 racehorses.

“It was a very atypical route. I went to Ocala to do 2-year-olds for clients. Actually, I just sent Todd a bunch of horses yesterday and today,” Thomas said. “We’re getting left with some horses that fit the barn program. Some horses do better in that environment. It’s not something we set out to do. It happened organically.”

Tillie’s Lily went right to the lead, repelled an outside challenge on the turn into the homestretch and drew away powerfully to complete five furlongs in 58.01 seconds.

“She’s been training that way, so it was good to see her deliver,” Thomas said.

The 3-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor had a series of breezes at Bridlewood before producing two very sharp workouts over the Gulfstream track.

“We’re using Bridlewood as our main hub,” Thomas said. “Some of the horses that haven’t had racetrack experience come down here [to Gulfstream] for a few weeks to get an education.”