Photo by Barbara Livingston
Champion Thunder Puddles, the only New York-bred to sire a New York-bred millionaire, died on Tuesday morning, June 29, at Carl Lizza Jr.’s and Joseph Bartone’s Highcliff Farm in Delanson, New York, where the 31-year-old (plus just over three months) stallion had stood since entering stud in 1985. The syndicated multiple Grade 2 turf winner had been bred and raced by Long Islanders Herbert Schwartz and Dr. Robert Boggiano and had reigned as leading New York-bred money-earner from 1983 until 1985 with a bankroll of $791,695. He was New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) Champion Turf Male for 1983, and his stakes-winning offspring included NYTB champions Thunder Rumble ($1,047,552), Thunder Achiever, and Factual Contender plus multiple graded winner Thunder Regent ($567,139).
Thunder Puddles was among both the first and continuing success stories for the New York Breeding and Racing Program. Breeders Schwartz and Boggiano, who bred and raced Thunder Puddles in the name of Rockwood Stable, had claimed the future champion’s maternal granddam, Mountainville, as a maiden for $5,000 at Aqueduct in 1967. The Warfare filly won the following year, and from her they bred Big Puddles, a daughter of Delta Judge who captured Monmouth’s graded Post-Deb Stakes by four lengths in 1974 and later produced New York-bred graded winners Always Run Lucky (by What Luck) and Thunder Puddles. Thunder Puddles would become the leading money-earner sired by Speak John, whose other stakes-winning offspring included Eclipse Champion Talking Picture, Grade 1 winner Text, and major sires Hold Your Peace and Verbatim.
As a juvenile, Thunder Puddles immediately showed turf talent, winning a 1 1/16-mile maiden special on Belmont’s lawn by 7 ½ lengths and then placing a strong second in Aqueduct’s 1 1/8-mile Pilgrim Stakes on soft sod. As a 3-year-old, the big chestnut captured Saratoga’s West Point Handicap by 10 lengths and in his next start took Meadowlands’ Grade 2 Rutgers Handicap on Labor Day at 1 3/8 miles. Later that fall he placed second in Woodbine’s Rothmans International and third in Laurel’s Washington DC International and Belmont’s Man o’ War – all Grade 1 events for 3-year-olds and up. Thunder Puddles was a formidable 4-year-old, winning Aqueduct’s Kingston Stakes under top weight before taking a division of Belmont’s Grade 2 Red Smith Handicap and placing second in the Rothmans International and Aqueduct’s Turf Classic – both Grade 1 – and third in Belmont’s Grade 2 Sword Dancer Handicap.
- Photo by Barbara Livingston
Arguably the first major New York-bred winner of modern times to enter stud in New York, Thunder Puddles emerged as a significant sire in the early 1990s when son Thunder Regent became a multiple turf stakes winner in the summer of 1990. Two summers later – by which time Thunder Regent was a multiple graded winner with a victory over Eclipse Champion Dance Smartly – another son, Thunder Rumble, reeled off back-to-back tallies in Saratoga’s Grade 2 Jim Dandy and $1-million Grade 1 Travers Stakes (by 4 ½ lengths). Thunder Rumble scored his sixth career stakes victory two summers later with a four-length romp in the $250,000 Saratoga Cup, becoming a millionaire.
Sire of graded-winning male routers on dirt and turf, Thunder Puddles broke the mold again by siring a fast and precocious daughter, Thunder Achiever, who was a 2-year-old NYTB champion and won Aqueduct’s Grade 2 First Flight Handicap in 1:21.59 for seven furlongs as a 3-year-old against older rivals. Thunder Puddles’ 21st century multiple stakes winners included Tom’s Thunder ($463,485). His progeny have earned almost $8.8-million, and offspring of his daughters – including such stakes winners as graded victor Weathered ($571,723) and 20-time winner Brucker’s Brother ($614,253) – have bankrolled another $4.85-million to date.
Thunder Puddles enjoyed a productive and idyllic life as a racehorse and later as a stallion at Highcliff Farm, where the good-natured horse occupied the same stall for a quarter-century while New York Breeding Fund stallion awards generated by his offspring continued to roll in by mail. After his New York-bred maternal granddaughter, Weathered, won Aqueduct’s graded Next Move Handicap under top weight in March of 2009 – five years following the arrival of Thunder Puddles’ last foals – a reporter called Highcliff Farm to inquire about the old stallion’s whereabouts. “Oh, he’s still here,” was the reply. “In fact, I just saw him through the window a few minutes ago; he’s doing great.”
Thunder Puddles was buried at Highcliff Farm, where affection for him was unanimous. Highcliff Farm’s co-manager, Suzie O’Cain, poignantly observed about Thunder Puddles’ track and stud careers: “He had the perfect trip.”
THUNDER PUDDLES’s story, albeit bitter-sweet at his passing, is one that makes my heart happy. THIS is the life that every thoroughbred deserves. This fortunate son was respected and loved. He did his job and was rewarded with a safe retirement in a green pasture with the sun on his back. Condolences to his connections, on the loss of their old friend. Kudos are also in order. These are some of “the good guys.” They did it right.
RIP, Champ. Love goes with you to the great green running plain of Thisgoodplace.
Your FOB Fren, Otherlyn
It is with a heavy heart that I write this. Condolences to the Rockwood Stables and everyone connected with Thunder Puddles. He was a great champion and a beautiful stallion, so regal and majestic. I still watch for his progeny and follow their successes. God bless you all.
Sorry to read of death of Thunder Puddles. I own one of his offspring who turned 20 this year but still thinks he’s a two year old. He looks so much like his dad it is amazing.
Your boy was quite the looker.