Thousand Words

Thousand Words turned in an impressive performance in his career debut, winning a 6 ½-furlong sprint by a half-length and earning a 105 Equibase Speed Figure. He was even more impressive in his second race.

Facing stakes competition for the first time in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity, Thousand Words edged away from Grade 3-winning stablemate High Velocity in early stretch but was then headed by TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile runner-up Anneau d’Or. But Thousand Words would not be denied and battled back gamely on the inside to prevail.

Thousand Words recorded his third win in as many starts when he outfinished stablemate High Velocity and runner-up Royal Act to win the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes Feb. 1 at Santa Anita Park. The Lewis victor earned Thousand Words 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and gave Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his 3,000^th North American victory.

Thousand Words tasted defeat for the first time in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes March 7 when he faded late after pressing stablemate Authentic early and finished a nonthreatening fourth. He then finished a disappointing 11th in a listed stakes race at Oaklawn Park before checking in second to stablemate Uncle Chuck in the Los Alamitos Futurity. Thousand Words halted a three-race winless stretch with a determined three-quarter-length victory in the Shared Belief Stakes Aug. 1 at Del Mar to pick up 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to cement his spot in the run for the roses.

Multiple Grade 2 winner Pomeroys Pistol, by Pomeroy, is the dam (mother) of Thousand Words.