Thunder Gulch (USA)
May 23, 1992 – March 19, 2018
Gulch (USA) x Line of Thunder (USA), by Storm Bird (CAN)
Family 11-d
May 23, 1992 – March 19, 2018
Gulch (USA) x Line of Thunder (USA), by Storm Bird (CAN)
Family 11-d
A late foal, Thunder Gulch was small and lacking in glamour compared to two other members of the D. Wayne Lukas stable—the big, handsome juvenile champion Timber Country and the tough-as-nails filly Serena's Song. But when the dust cleared after the 1995 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1), it was Thunder Gulch who wore the roses. While some felt the victory was something of a fluke, Thunder Gulch ran a respectable third to Timber Country in the Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) and then went on a four-race win streak to lock up honors as American champion 3-year-old male. He was badly beaten by eventual Horse of the Year Cigar in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA-G1) but proved to have an excuse as post-race examination revealed a fractured cannon bone. Retired to Ashford Stud, Thunder Gulch had an inconsistent stud career but sired at least one horse better than himself in 2001 American Horse of the Year Point Given.
Race record
16 starts, 9 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$2,915,086
1994:
1995:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male (1995)
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile males of 1994, 10 pounds below champion Timber Country.
As an individual
A chestnut horse, Thunder Gulch was considered small during his racing career but as a stallion was measured at 15 hands 3½ inches. He was well-balanced and correct but was more workmanlike than elegant in make. As a racehorse, he was slow to mature mentally and tended to be lazy through the early part of his sophomore season. From the Kentucky Derby onward, he was much more professional, and he continued with that same professional demeanor as a stallion.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Thunder Gulch sired 1327 winners (53.0%) and 86 stakes winners (3.4%) from 2504 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per the Korean Studbook (https://studbook.kra.co.kr/neweng/html/eng_sire_list.jsp):
Per the Stud Book Argentino (https://www.studbook.org.ar/):
Per Thoroughbred Times (previously Thoroughbred Record):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Balance (USA), Circular Quay (USA), J. B.'s Thunder (USA), La Severa (ARG), Petite Lorraine (CHI), Point Given (USA), R. A. Druzhba (USA), Recast (AUS), Sense of Style (USA), Shot of Thunder (AUS), Shotgun Gulch (USA), Spain (USA), Spy in the Sky (USA), Tato Zena (VEN), Tempest Morn (AUS), Thunder One (ARG), Tully Thunder (AUS), Tweedside (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Bayern (USA), Che Evasora (ARG), Classic Causeway (USA), Danceforthecause (CAN), Emilia's Moon (USA), La Validada (ARG)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Thunder Gulch was bred by Peter Brant. He was purchased by pinhooker Ken Ellenberg and veterinarian Jerry Bailey for US$40,000 at the 1993 Keeneland July sale. After Thunder Gulch failed to meet his reserve of US$125,000 at the 1994 Keeneland April sale of 2-year-olds in training, Ellenberg and Bailey sold a what was variously reported as a 50 or 60 percent interest in Thunder Gulch to Howard Rozins' Mutual Shar Stable. The colt entered training with John Kimmel and remained in Kimmel's barn until November 11, 1994, when Coolmore Stud partner Michael Tabor bought him for US$475,000. After the colt's change of ownership, he was trained by D. Wayne Lukas. He was ridden to his Kentucky Derby win by Gary Stevens. Thunder Gulch entered stud in 1996 at Coolmore's Kentucky farm, Ashford Stud, and remained based there throughout his stud career except for one Northern Hemisphere season at East Stud in Japan. Thunder Gulch also shuttled to Australia, Chile and Argentina for Southern Hemisphere breeding seasons. He was pensioned in January 2015 and died due to the infirmities of old age in March 2018.
Pedigree notes
Thunder Gulch is inbred 4x5 to Native Dancer. He is a half brother to Battle Line (by Ogygian), a multiple stakes winner in Japan. His dam Line of Thunder was a smallish mare who was difficult to train but nonetheless ran second in the 1989 Tattersalls Cheveley Park Stakes (ENG-G1). She is a half sister to Head of Victory (by Mr. Prospector), second dam of English Group 3 winner Mistle Song. She is also a half sister to The Skeat (by Nureyev), second dam of multiple Japanese Group 3 winner Fragarach.
Shoot a Line (by High Line), the second dam of Thunder Gulch, won the 1980 Irish Guinness Oaks (IRE-G1) and Yorkshire Oaks (ENG-G1) and was the co-champion English and Irish 3-year-old filly of 1980. Produced from the Tamerlane mare Death Ray, she is a half sister to multiple English Group 3 winner More Light (by Morston) and to German Group 3 winner Sharp End (by Sharpen Up). She is also a half sister to Sizzler (by Blakeney), dam of Italian stakes winner Sizzling Hot (by Formidable), and to Fearless (by Derring-Do), second dam of German Group 3 winner El Lute. Death Ray, in turn, is a half sister to the speedy Daylight Robbery (by Hook Money), winner of the 1964 July Cup.
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Taken by Jessica Morgan in 2013 at Ashford Stud. Used by permission.
Last updated: May 12, 2024
Race record
16 starts, 9 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$2,915,086
1994:
- Won Remsen Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Cowdin Stakes (USA-G2, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Hollywood Futurity (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
1995:
- Won Fountain of Youth Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Florida Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Travers Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Swaps Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Hollywood)
- Won Kentucky Cup Classic Handicap (USA-L, 9FD, Turfway Park)
- 3rd Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male (1995)
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile males of 1994, 10 pounds below champion Timber Country.
As an individual
A chestnut horse, Thunder Gulch was considered small during his racing career but as a stallion was measured at 15 hands 3½ inches. He was well-balanced and correct but was more workmanlike than elegant in make. As a racehorse, he was slow to mature mentally and tended to be lazy through the early part of his sophomore season. From the Kentucky Derby onward, he was much more professional, and he continued with that same professional demeanor as a stallion.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Thunder Gulch sired 1327 winners (53.0%) and 86 stakes winners (3.4%) from 2504 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- Led the American general sire list in 2001.
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
- Led the Korean broodmare sire list in 2011.
- 5th on the North American broodmare sire list in 2014.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- Led the American general sire list in 2001.
- 8th on the American broodmare sire list in 2014.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the American general sire list in 2001
Per the Korean Studbook (https://studbook.kra.co.kr/neweng/html/eng_sire_list.jsp):
- Led the Korean broodmare sire list in 2011.
Per the Stud Book Argentino (https://www.studbook.org.ar/):
- 9th on the Argentine general sire list in 2011.
Per Thoroughbred Times (previously Thoroughbred Record):
- 2nd on the American general sire list in 2001.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the American general sire list in 2001.
Notable progeny
Balance (USA), Circular Quay (USA), J. B.'s Thunder (USA), La Severa (ARG), Petite Lorraine (CHI), Point Given (USA), R. A. Druzhba (USA), Recast (AUS), Sense of Style (USA), Shot of Thunder (AUS), Shotgun Gulch (USA), Spain (USA), Spy in the Sky (USA), Tato Zena (VEN), Tempest Morn (AUS), Thunder One (ARG), Tully Thunder (AUS), Tweedside (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Bayern (USA), Che Evasora (ARG), Classic Causeway (USA), Danceforthecause (CAN), Emilia's Moon (USA), La Validada (ARG)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Thunder Gulch was bred by Peter Brant. He was purchased by pinhooker Ken Ellenberg and veterinarian Jerry Bailey for US$40,000 at the 1993 Keeneland July sale. After Thunder Gulch failed to meet his reserve of US$125,000 at the 1994 Keeneland April sale of 2-year-olds in training, Ellenberg and Bailey sold a what was variously reported as a 50 or 60 percent interest in Thunder Gulch to Howard Rozins' Mutual Shar Stable. The colt entered training with John Kimmel and remained in Kimmel's barn until November 11, 1994, when Coolmore Stud partner Michael Tabor bought him for US$475,000. After the colt's change of ownership, he was trained by D. Wayne Lukas. He was ridden to his Kentucky Derby win by Gary Stevens. Thunder Gulch entered stud in 1996 at Coolmore's Kentucky farm, Ashford Stud, and remained based there throughout his stud career except for one Northern Hemisphere season at East Stud in Japan. Thunder Gulch also shuttled to Australia, Chile and Argentina for Southern Hemisphere breeding seasons. He was pensioned in January 2015 and died due to the infirmities of old age in March 2018.
Pedigree notes
Thunder Gulch is inbred 4x5 to Native Dancer. He is a half brother to Battle Line (by Ogygian), a multiple stakes winner in Japan. His dam Line of Thunder was a smallish mare who was difficult to train but nonetheless ran second in the 1989 Tattersalls Cheveley Park Stakes (ENG-G1). She is a half sister to Head of Victory (by Mr. Prospector), second dam of English Group 3 winner Mistle Song. She is also a half sister to The Skeat (by Nureyev), second dam of multiple Japanese Group 3 winner Fragarach.
Shoot a Line (by High Line), the second dam of Thunder Gulch, won the 1980 Irish Guinness Oaks (IRE-G1) and Yorkshire Oaks (ENG-G1) and was the co-champion English and Irish 3-year-old filly of 1980. Produced from the Tamerlane mare Death Ray, she is a half sister to multiple English Group 3 winner More Light (by Morston) and to German Group 3 winner Sharp End (by Sharpen Up). She is also a half sister to Sizzler (by Blakeney), dam of Italian stakes winner Sizzling Hot (by Formidable), and to Fearless (by Derring-Do), second dam of German Group 3 winner El Lute. Death Ray, in turn, is a half sister to the speedy Daylight Robbery (by Hook Money), winner of the 1964 July Cup.
Books and media
- The Story of Thunder Gulch was written by Peter Cunningham and was published by Orion Publishing in 1996 as a limited-edition hardcover.
- Thunder Gulch is the subject of “Small but Mighty,” the 11th chapter of the Blood-Horse compilation Greatest Kentucky Derby Upsets (2007, Eclipse Press).
- Thunder Gulch is profiled in Chapter 12 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- D. Wayne Lukas examined Thunder Gulch at the 1993 Keeneland July yearling sale but passed on him at that time as being too small and plain.
- Lukas gave Thunder Gulch the nickname of “Mighty Mouse.”
- Jockey Donna Barton rode all three of Lukas' 1995 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) contenders—Serena's Song, Timber Country and Thunder Gulch—during their final works prior to the big race. Thunder Gulch was the last she worked, and as she and Lukas rode back from the track, Lukas asked her which of the three she thought had the best chance to win. “The one I'm on” was her reply. She was right.
- Thunder Gulch was the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby from the no. 16 post position.
- Thunder Gulch's May 23 foaling date made him the youngest horse since Northern Dancer (foaled May 27) to win the Kentucky Derby.
- Thunder Gulch's Derby and Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) wins, combined with Timber Country's Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) win, made D. Wayne Lukas the first trainer to sweep all three Triple Crown races in the same year with two different horses
Photo credit
Taken by Jessica Morgan in 2013 at Ashford Stud. Used by permission.
Last updated: May 12, 2024