Think Big back on best behaviour with G3 Kelso Stakes win

Think Big unleashed his trademark turn of foot to post a third Graded Stakes victory this season, and first over a mile, with an impressive display in the G3 Kelso Stakes at Saratoga, USA, on Saturday, 5 July. 

The four-year-old had carved out a reputation as an exciting turf sprinter, winning his first four starts on the surface including the G2 Shakertown Stakes and G2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint, before unruly behaviour and a bad start cost him any chance in last month’s G1 Jaipur Stakes. 

Stepping up two and a half furlongs, Think Big broke on terms and the Michael Stidham-trained son of Twirling Candy soon settled in a close fifth for Jose Ortiz on the outside of Intellect. 

Donegal Momentum moved up to press Arzak for the lead half a mile out but took a wrong step leaving the back and was soon eased, leaving Think Big fourth turning in. 

Think Big quickened powerfully between Win For The Money and Arzak over half a furlong out before reeling in Intellect in the closing strides for a cosy length victory. 

Michael Stidham said: “We made some changes with Think Big after the Jaipur – schooling him in the paddock and having a pony with him – and it really made a difference. A lot went on in the race today, but he really finished well and made us proud. 

“It was always in the back of our mind to stretch him out to a mile. He had only been long on the dirt, and it was always something that Michael Banahan and I had spoken about. This was our chance after the last race went the wrong way. Anything is possible going forward after he went above and beyond expectations today.” 

Jose Ortiz added: “Think Big was very classy in the post parade, he had a lot of energy but was settled. He broke good and I was having a very good trip with the favourite inside of me until the three-eighths pole, when the other horse tripped and went down. 

“They ran away from me in the turn and I wasn’t able to keep up, but then he switched leads in the straight and gave me another gear.”