Not even 24 hours since their big win in the GI Kentucky Oaks, Think Big kept the momentum rolling for Godolphin Saturday with a late rallying-score in the GII Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes at Churchill.
Undefeated on the turf since changing surfaces for trainer Michael Stidham late last year, the Twirling Candy gelding put in a career-best effort at Keeneland last out Apr. 8 to take the GII Shakertown Stakes, defeating several rivals who were lined up to challenge him once more Saturday. Kept comfortably off the speed as expected pacesetter Coppola (Into Mischief) surged to the front in the opening furlong, Think Big sat covered up between horses in the second flight before beginning a move to break away towards the front past the half-mile pole. As Coppola was confronted by Boss Sully (Street Boss) off the far turn, the 2-1 race favorite angled outside of that pair but looked as though he'd be too late with Boss Sully opening up a sizable advantage midway down the stretch. Continuing to find in the final yards, Think Big just had enough real estate to get past with a triumphant Ben Curtis celebrating under the wire.
“He doesn't have a certain style,” said Curtis after the win. “He came from last at Fair Grounds and mid-pack at Keeneland. Before that, he was very forward. I found a lovely spot where he was into the race. He's a fast stayer at this distance. The further we went down the straight, I thought we'd get him. It took me a little longer to get him than I thought but he got there.”
Stidham added: “No special instructions to the rider; he's ridden him before and knows him well. At the sixteenth pole, I didn't think we were going to make it. I said 'aw heck, we're gonna be second.' But then he dug in like a champ and got it done. Every once in a while something goes right.”
Pedigree Note:
One of 59 stakes winners for Twirling Candy, Think Big is out of a stakes-winning first dam in Always Thinking who took the Sensible Lady Turf Dash Stakes at Laurel in her own racing career in the royal blue silks of Godolphin. A daughter of Argentinian GISW Que Piensa Cat (Arg), Always Thinking is a half to the dam of GSW Sharp Aza Tack (Sharp Azteca). Think Big is her second foal, though first to the races, and she has since produced a winning 3-year-old Hard Spun filly named Pondering. While she has no 2-year-old this season, Always Thinking reported a colt by Hard Spun in 2024 and foaled a Cairo Prince filly this year.
Saturday, Churchill Downs
TWIN SPIRES TURF SPRINT S. PRESENTED BY ACCENTURE-GII, $569,600, Churchill Downs, 5-3, 3yo/up, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.35, gd.
1–THINK BIG, 125, g, 4, by Twirling Candy
1st Dam: Always Thinking (SW, $162,638),
by Street Sense
2nd Dam: Que Piensa Cat (Arg), by Easing Along
3rd Dam: Compenetrada (Arg), by Compatible (Arg)
O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Michael Stidham; J-Ben Curtis. $354,500. Lifetime Record: 9-5-0-1, $709,785. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Boss Sully, 121, g, 5, Street Boss–Eternally, by Candy Ride (Arg). 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Edward Rusty J. Brown, Alan P. Klein and Philip Lebherz; B-PT Syndicate #1 LLC (CA); T-Brian J. Koriner. $95,000.
3–Unconquerable Keen (Ire), 121, g, 6, Clodovil (Ire)–Queenie Keen (Ire), by Refuse To Bend (Ire). 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-CYBT, Omar Aldabbagh and Michael Nentwig; B-N. Hartery (IRE); T-Philip D'Amato. $47,500.
Margins: 3/4, 1 1/4, 1. Odds: 2.42, 8.68, 13.84.
Also Ran: Arrest Me Red, Ambivalent, Coppola, Run Carson, Rogue Lightning (Ire), Mischievous Rogue, Eamonn. Scratched: Nobals, One Timer.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
Think Big closes in the final strides to win the G2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes presented by Accenture!
Mike Stidham trains the Godolphin homebred. pic.twitter.com/05C0e2JUtN
— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) May 3, 2025
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