River Boyne gets his favorite distance

ARCADIA, Calif. – It’s time for River Boyne to grow up.

A five-time stakes winner against 3-year-olds on turf in 2018, River Boyne will have his first start against older horses in Saturday’s Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita.

“We enjoyed his 3-year-old year,” co-owner Tim Cohen said Thursday.

“I’m anxious to see how he’ll handle it. I’m a little more concerned about the ground than the older horses.”

While the sun was out at Santa Anita on Thursday, there were several inches of rain last weekend and a possibility of more rain Saturday.

River Boyne drew the rail in the $100,000 Thunder Road and will be favored in his first start since a game win in the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile here Dec. 26. The Thunder Road Stakes drew a field of six, including Desert Stone, beaten a head in the Mathis Brothers Mile; Ohio, the easy winner of the Cotton Fitzsimmons Handicap at Turf Paradise on Jan. 12; and Blackjackcat, who was third in the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Mile and was recently transferred from trainer Mark Glatt to Jerry Hollendorfer.

KEY CONTENDERS

River Boyne, by Dandy Man Last 3 Beyers: 95-96-92

◗ Owned by Red Barons Barn and Cohen’s Rancho Temescal, River Boyne will be ridden by regular rider Flavien Prat, who is likely to have the colt in a stalking position in the small field. River Boyne has won his last three starts at a mile, including the Pasadena Stakes on good turf here last March.

◗ River Boyne won 6 of 9 starts in 2018 and is trained by Jeff Mullins.

“He’s a horse that likes to stay busy,” Cohen said. “He enjoys running. He needs time between races, but he’s very durable.”

Blackjackcat, by Tale of the Cat Last 3 Beyers: 71-92-99

◗ Blackjackcat was transferred to Hollendorfer shortly after finishing sixth in the Fitzsimmons Handicap. Owned by Al and Sandee Kirkwood, Blackjackcat is winless in six starts since winning the Obviously Mile here in October 2017.

◗ A 6-year-old gelding, Blackjackcat drew the outside post. He will be ridden for the first time by Mike Smith, who is likely to have the gelding near the front.

“It’s not a bad draw with six horses,” Hollendorfer said. “He might be the only speed in there. He’s a nice horse to be around and easy to work with.”

Desert Stone, by Fastnet Rock Last 3 Beyers: 95-86-91

◗ Desert Stone overcame a slow start to just miss catching River Boyne in the Mathis Brothers Mile at odds of 10-1.

“He had a little bit of trouble at the top of the lane,” trainer Richard Baltas said.

◗ Desert Stone is winless in five stakes since last summer, but has finished well on occasion, especially in races at Santa Anita. Last November, Desert Stone was third by a half-length behind River Boyne in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf here.

“He hasn’t beaten River Boyne yet,” Baltas said. “He got close last time.”