‘More mature’ Thunder Snow works toward Breeders’ Cup

In some ways, says the assistant trainer traveling with Thunder Snow, he’s the same horse as is remembered for his bucking start to the 2017 Kentucky Derby. But in at least one way, the colt is different, and that’s giving Tommy Burns plenty of hope leading into the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

A 4-year-old son of Helmet, Thunder Snow posted his first workout over the Churchill Downs track on Saturday, given a final time of 1:04.60 for five furlongs by clockers for a breeze designed to measure a mile.

“We didn’t want to overdo it with three weeks to go,” said Burns, who works for owner Godolphin and reports to trainer Saeed bin Suroor. “So we’re pleased with what he’s done today. He’s having a nice blow.”

Burns described Thunder Snow as a “lazy” sort who races into shape, citing the colt’s peak in winning the Dubai World Cup (G1) last spring after prepping in all three rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan.

Similarly, bin Suroor sent Thunder Snow to England for the Juddmonte International (G1) on turf back in August to get a race into him. Thunder Snow lost two shoes and finished eighth but followed that up by finishing second most recently in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Belmont Park.

So, as for how he’s similar to last year, Thunder Snow needs more work, and Burns guesses lack of it over the Churchill track leading into the Derby was a negative.

“It’s very tough to beat the Americans in their own backyard on the dirt,” Burns said. “…But we’re here. It’s a different program we’re doing.”

In addition to familiarity with the track, Thunder Snow is a year older and, for it, wiser.

“Now he’s more mature — knows what his job’s about,” Burns said, adding that a combination of “the crowd, the track here, everything,” played into the Derby flop.

It’s assumed by connections that Thunder Snow will stalk the pace rather than set it in the Nov. 3 Classic even after Diversify’s defection from the field. Still in are Mendelssohn, who raced ahead of Thunder Snow early last out at Belmont, as well as the Bob Baffert-trained duo of West Coast and McKinzie, both capable of carrying speed on the front end.

Significant kickback could be new for Thunder Snow.

“That’s the only negative part I can find,” Burns said. “Otherwise, we’ll just take it as the race goes.”

By the way, “There’s a little stat there that’s in our favor,” Burns pointed out. The last two Classics at Churchill Downs — won by Drosselmeyer in 2010 and Blame in 2011 — were victories that also followed a runner-up finish in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.