Todd Pletcher will send out Thunder Moccasin for owner Starlight Racing. Starlight Racing also owns Holy Bull winner Algorithms. Although Thunder Moccasin broke his maiden last December in only his first start, he will open as second choice in Saturday’s field at odds of 7-5. He finished 2 ½ lengths in front of second place finisher Ender Knievel and 4 ½ lengths in front of third place finisher Panthro. Both have gone on to win subsequent races.
Last week Thunder Moccasin worked four furlongs in a sharp :47. Pletcher has a way of turning maiden winners into graded stakes winners overnight, so he must be confident this colt can get the job done if he’s going to attempt a graded stakes in the colt’s second start.
Rounding out the field of six are 5-1 Il Villano, who finished third to Grade 3 Withers Stakes winner Alpha in his last start, and 12-1 Wildcat Creek, who appears ready to make the move to graded stakes company.
The race is the 8th on Gulfstream’s star-studded Saturday card with a post time of 3:49 EST. The race can be seen on HRTV and TVG.
Photo: Courtesy Kentucky Derby
