Skye’n Thunder Tops This Field of Winners

Four of the eight 3-year-olds entered in today’s sixth race at Santa Anita are coming off wins.

Skye’n Thunder was arguably the most impressive. A gray son of Thunder Gulch trained by Wayne Lukas and owned and bred by the Allen Paulson Living Trust headed by Michael Paulson, Skye’n Thunder beat maidens by two lengths going 1 1/8 miles on March 18. In his first race on Jan. 30, he finished sixth of 10, beaten eight lengths by winner Mystos.

Shortening to a mile in today’s $52,000 allowance, Skye’n Thunder shouldn’t be far off the pace under jockey Jose Valdivia Jr., who was aboard for his maiden score.

Concert Master and Pure As Gold are fresh off victories over maiden claimers. Debuting at today’s distance on March 6, Concert Master won by one length at nearly 21-1 for owner Warren Williamson and trainer Carla Gaines, and Pure As Gold won by a half-dozen lengths going six furlongs on March 11 for owners Al and Sandee Kirkwood and trainer Mike Puhich.

The other recent winner is Hammer Back, although he didn’t cross the wire first in the third race on March 5. He finished second, beaten by a nose, at 22-1, but was awarded the victory when Canteen was disqualified for interference.

Race of the day: Double Dream, who won three of seven starts in South America, will make her U.S. debut for Lael Stables and trainer Michael Matz in today’s ninth at Gulfstream Park.

One for the road: Slew Motion will face less pace pressure in her second start in New York and is also facing easier company in today’s seventh at Aqueduct. Rafael Bejarano will ride the 3-year-old Slew Gin Fizz filly, who won two of three at Golden Gate Fields before being purchased privately, in the $45,000 allowance for New York bred fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using First Word in the first, Zanzibar, Woke Up Dreamin and Siphonizer in the second and Newport Green, Snapped Up and Bordonaro in the third.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 4/180. Money: Previous day/meet total: $20.40/$972.80. Total money bet: $1,200.