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Bright Thought back to his best in John Henry

Bright Thought won for the first time since his record-setting win in the 2013 San Luis Rey, propelling himself into the BC Turf (Benoit Photos) Dye and Venneri Racing's Bright Thought, who had not won since his short-lived world record in the 2013 San Luis Rey, regained his old sparkle in Sunday's Grade 2, $201,000 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita. Making his second start for trainer Phil D'Amato, the 7-1 shot was very much overshadowed by his razor-sharp stablemate Big John B, who easily defeated him last time out in the August 23 Del Mar Handicap. Big John B was accordingly pounded into 4-5 favoritism, but Bright Thought turned the tables, and thereby likely joined him in the line-up for the Breeders' Cup Turf. Breaking sharply for new rider Tyler Baze, Bright Thought prompted pacesetter Big Kick through fractions of :23 3/5, :46 3/5 and 1:10 1/5 on the firm turf. That tactic could have been interpreted as a stage-setting for Big John B, a deep closer who was content to trail early. Bright Thought proved that hypothesis all wrong, however. Dismissing Big Kick midway on the far turn, Bright Thought reached the mile mark in 1:34 1/5, spurted clear, and continued to roll down the lane. Finnegans Wake, a new recruit to the Peter Miller barn, rallied, and Big John B loomed into the picture late, but neither could catch the winner. Bright Thought held Finnegans Wake by three-quarters of a length, zipped 1 1/4 miles in 1:58 1/5, and fueled a win payout of $16.40.

"Being on the lead with Big Kick didn't bother me at all," Baze said. "I have watched Bright Thought's replays and I've been watching him race for a year and a half. I've been trying to get on him for over a year and a half. So when they gave me the opportunity to get on I had complete confidence in him. Phil has done a good job with him and he's given me the opportunity, so I did what I could with that opportunity and hopefully I'm on him next time."

"This is the second race I've had him," D'Amato said. "I've probably had him for two months. He's just a classy horse. Last time I don't think I used his best asset, his speed, to full advantage. This time I wanted to sharpen him up and use that speed, and Tyler used it perfectly today.

"I told Tyler to use the seven horse (Big Kick) as his guide and he broke with him and just kind of relaxed him a little bit. He's the kind of horse you don't want too far off his target. When Tyler asked him, he took off and responded well."

Big John B reported home another 1 1/2 lengths back in third. Connections believe he's better suited over longer, and he already has a berth in the Breeders' Cup Turf by virtue of his Del Mar 'Cap romp.

"They went fast up front but they just didn't come back any," his Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith said. "The turf is brand new and they're just cruising over it.

"That horse (Bright Thought) really runs well for Tyler," Smith added. "He just keeps running for him.

"My horse (Big John B) is really good at a mile and a half, so he needs that extra quarter-mile to work with. It will really help him. He's a true mile and a quarter of a mile, or mile and a half horse. He may be even better at a mile and a half. If you notice his margin of victories in his longer races, you can see the difference."

"This will set him up for that mile and a half (Turf) as well," D'Amato said. "Mike Smith jumped off and said, 'mile and a half.' The horse came with a run and he ran well. I always thought a mile and quarter was probably as short as I'd go with Big John (B). A mile and a half, a mile and three-eighths is right in his wheel house.

"We're probably looking for the same (Turf) for Bright Thought. We'll see how he comes out of it, but he loves this turf course. It was a great time (1:58 1/5), so we'll see."

Starspangled Heat checked in fourth, trailed by Irish Surf, Bench Light, Big Kick, Si Sage and Unbridled Command. Poshsky, one of a trio for Miller along with Finnegans Wake and Unbridled Command, was scratched.

Bright Thought, who had shifted between the West Coast and the Mid-Atlantic early in his career, truly burst onto the scene at Santa Anita in early 2013. Then trained by Jorge Gutierrez, he made his turf debut in a one-mile starter handicap on Super Bowl Sunday, which he won in gate-to-wire fashion by 2 1/4 lengths. The son of Hat Trick subsequently coasted in a 1 1/4-mile first-level allowance on the lawn by 5 1/4 lengths.

Rising in class and trip for the 1 1/2-mile San Luis Rey, Bright Thought not only bolted 3 1/4 lengths clear, but did so in a world-record time of 2:22.72. His mark would stand for only a week, as Twilight Eclipse lowered it to 2:22.63 in the Pan American at Gulfstream Park.

Unfortunately, Bright Thought's budding stardom was halted. He sustained a broken splint bone that sidelined him for seven months, and made an ambitious comeback in last November's Breeders' Cup Mile. Tiring to last of 10 behind Wise Dan, the dark bay again ran well below form when trailing in the Citation Handicap.

Bright Thought was not seen again until the April 6 Thunder Road at Santa Anita, finishing a useful third to course record-equaling Tom's Tribute. He still wasn't ready to build on that effort, and followed up with unplaced performances in both the May 3 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs and the May 24 Charles Whittingham back at Santa Anita.

After a third in the July 23 Wickerr at Del Mar, Bright Thought was transferred to D'Amato. He tired to third, beaten 5 1/2 lengths, by his new stablemate Big John B in the Del Mar 'Cap, and moved forward considerably second time out for the barn here. His resume now reads 15-5-0-3, $339,161.

Bred in Kentucky by Postum Farm and Venneri Racing, Bright Thought was produced by the Smart Strike mare Smart Thought. The five-year-old's third dam, Right Word, is the ancestress of such standouts as Raven's Pass, an English highweight and 2008 Breeders' Cup Classic winner; Grade 1 vixen No Matter What, dam of English champion Rainbow View, Grade 1 hero Just as Well, reigning Dixie scorer Utley and multiple Grade 3 queen Winter View. No Matter What is herself a half-sister to multiple Grade 2 winner and noted sire E Dubai.

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