Multiple stakes-placed Thundering Sky garnered her first stakes win Saturday at Belmont Park with a gallant three-quarter length score in the $200,000 Pebbles S.
The 3-year-old filly is Sky Mesa’s 10th stakes winner of 2016. Her victory pushed Sky Mesa’s lifetime North American progeny earnings past the $43 million mark. The Three Chimneys stallion now has 57 black type winners.
With Believe in Bertie setting a very hot pace, Thundering Sky tracked in fifth, well off the fence, in the early stages. Around the turn, Thundering Sky began to inch closer as the pace began to take its toll on the pacesetter. Thundering Sky rolled past the early leader after six furlongs in a very rapid 1:08.91, and determinedly held her lead over a late charge from Mom’s On Strike.
The final time on the firm turf was an excellent 1:33.47, earning the nearly black filly a lifetime best Beyer Speed Figure of 94.
“She’s a nice filly and it worked out for her today,” said trainer George Weaver’s assistant Blair Golen. “They all kind of broke a tick slow and then once I saw the 2 [Believe in Bertie] send, I knew we were perfect. She’s a very good horse, she’s very good in the bridle, she’s very nice to ride and, outside of actually putting the saddle on her, she’s very nice to be around.”
Previously placed in the Ontario Colleen S. (G3) and Wild Applause S., Thundering Sky is now 2-3-3 in 11 starts and has banked $250,390 for her owner Matthew Schera, who was the filly’s winning bidder, at $145,000, at the 201 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Sale at Saratoga.
