The Del Mar summer meeting is slightly less than four months away, but close enough to weigh on the mind of trainer Jonathan Thomas.
Thomas, who has won three stakes at the current Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, will have a full-time presence at Del Mar this summer for the first time. In the last few weeks, Thomas has been in Kentucky, where he has a home. He will remain there for much of April, seeking to build his California stable. The West Coast division currently numbers 12.
On Thursday, Thomas described the trip to Kentucky as a chance “to recruit and develop” for prospects. “We’re trying to build some numbers up, particularly with 2-year-olds,” he said.
Thomas is likely to have a formidable team at the Del Mar summer meeting, which runs from July 18 to Sept. 7.
Last fall, Thomas won three stakes in a span of a week at the Del Mar fall meeting with Mrs. Astor, Truly Quality, and Will Then, who all figure in the stables plans for this summer. All are owned by George Strawbridge Jr.’s Augustin Stable.
Will Then won her third consecutive start in the China Doll Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf at Santa Anita last Sunday. She is a candidate for the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks, a $300,000 race at 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3-year-old fillies on Aug. 16.
“I would like to circle the Del Mar Oaks and work backward,” Thomas said.
The Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf on May 18 is an interim option.
“She’s thriving out there and I don’t want to shake it up,” Thomas said of Will Then’s success in California.
Mrs. Astor followed her win in the Grade 3 Red Carpet Stakes at Del Mar in November with a victory in Grade 3 Robert Frankel Stakes at Santa Anita in December. She was second to the upstart filly Lady Claypoole in the Grade 3 Santa Ana Stakes on March 15 and may face that rival in the $100,000 Santa Barbara Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita on May 4.
On Saturday, Thomas starts Tirupati in the Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf at Santa Anita.
“The plan is to leave the better fillies out there,” Thomas said. “There is some nice racing ahead on the calendar.”
The stable does not consist entirely of highly-rated fillies and mares.
The 5-year-old gelding Truly Quality, winner of three stakes last summer and fall, including the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar in November, is in the midst of a late winter and early spring rest. His summer campaign may include the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf on Aug. 30. The winner of the $300,000 Del Mar Handicap receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
For now, the 38-year-old Thomas has a small team at Keeneland that includes As Catch Can, who was second after a wide rally in the Bourbonette Oaks at 14-1 at Turfway Park last Saturday.
Turf races such as the Grade 2 Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland on April 5 or the Grade 2 Edgewood Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 2 are possible for As Catch Can.
“We’re here to run a few at Keeneland and hopefully build our stable,” Thomas said. “What I’ve learned in the last year, especially if you want to come back (to California) is you have to recruit.”
There are other reasons Thomas is aiming for a big May in California.
“Mrs. Astor’s race is May 4 and Bob Dylan is playing the Hollywood Bowl” on May 16, he said. “I hope I can attend both.”
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