KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Thornbird Stakes, the true signal that the high-profile Classic races are on the horizon, will be contested on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, at Caymanas Park.
The distance of the Thornbird is seven furlongs and is restricted to three-year-old fillies. There are 10 entrants in this year’s edition of the Thornbird.
Of the 10 fillies in the race, only three, She’s A Wonder, Hoist The Mast and Action Ann has won more than one race thus far in their careers. The other seven have all won one race each.
Based on this fact, the winner of this year’s Thornbird should come from the group of multiple winners.
Of the rest, Sensational Ending is going to appreciate seven furlongs, while Magenta's last performance when finishing fifth behind Action Ann can be ruled but even that consideration is not enough to win this one.
Three Times Lucky, although the most experienced of the lot, Amy The Butcher, Fighting Cowgirl, and Katalina are best left alone as this lot is better off seeking to win at non-winners of two.
Sure Curlin, now trained by Patrick Lynch after moving from Gary Subratie, did well to finish third behind Action Ann and Secret Identity on March 13 in the Hot Line Stakes. That run was encouraging but still inadequate to take on the big three at this time.
So, what of She’s A Wonder, Hoist The Mast, and Action Ann?
Hoist The Mast is known for her speed like She’s A Wonder while Action Ann represents the brigade of the come from behind horses.
Hoist The Mast made her seasonal entry 18 days ago and was not her usual competitive self. However, that effort must have brought her along for this race, but if she contests the lead as Hoist The Mast is prone to do then that might be her downfall, as she will have very little will be left in the last furlong.
Action Ann based on her late surge to win the Hot Line Stakes on March 13, is well suited going longer now and her main effort should materialise in the last two furlongs. Plus, in the Hot Line, Action Ann had traffic problems which made her victory even more noticeable. This is a horse on the move who should do her diversified connections proud with another sterling performance.
She’s A Wonder proved her worth last December in the one-mile Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes She did not lead as is her custom, instead, She’s A Wonder was well rated and also demonstrated her fighting qualities in the final furlong only to be denied by champion two-year-old Further And Beyond.
She’s A Wonder is the firm choice to win the 2021 Thornbird Stakes.
