Bright Thought recognized as world record-setter

That discrepancy between timing in fifths and hundredths might have

disadvantaged Little Mike, who blazed the same distance in 2:22.83 in last

November's Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita. His time stacked up morally, if

not according to the record book, with Hawkster's.

Alkaased had sizzled in 2:22.10 in the Grade 1 Japan Cup in 2005, but the

Tokyo feature is technically 2,400 meters. Although that distance is

colloquially referred to as 1 1/2 miles, it isn't quite that on the dot, being

approximately 1.491 miles. According to an editor's note in the American

Racing Manual, all record times are for exact distances.

Bright Thought, who is trained by Jorge Gutierrez and was ridden by Victor

Espinoza, is a four-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by the Sunday Silence stallion

Hat Trick. He was bred in part by Alex Venneri and is owned by Venneri Racing,

Inc., and Gil and Marjorie Dye.

His next start will be on turf in either the Grade 2 San Juan Capistrano

Handicap at about 1 3/4 miles on closing day, April 21, or the Grade 1 Woodford

Reserve Turf Classic at 1 1/8 miles on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs May

4.

Gutierrez sounded more inclined toward the Woodford Reserve.

"Bright Thought came out of the race in good shape, but for

now I think we're going to back off and give him a breather," Gutierrez noted.

"He's had three tough races here (winning each by comfortable margins). Our goal

probably is the Woodford Reserve on Kentucky

Derby Day. We're going to supplement to that."

Gutierrez and Espinoza both enjoyed unexpected

success at Santa Anita on Saturday, as the trainer and jockey each won three

races.

Gutierrez had his first three-win day since Fairplex Park,

where he was the meet's leading trainer last year. The San Luis Rey was his

first graded stakes triumph in his 12 years as a trainer.

Espinoza's three victories gave him 25 for the meet. His mounts have earned

$1,123,940 and he is winning at a highly respectable 21-percent clip.

"So far, so good," said Espinoza, who is represented by agent Brian Beach.

"The meet started good for me, I'm winning good races and I'm trying to keep it

going all the way through. Yesterday was a really great day. Brian and I are

going to work hard the rest of the year."

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