May 2, 2026 – Thundermaker made his 2026 debut a winning one on May 2nd at Woodbine, taking race 5, a $63,800 Optional Claiming / Ontario-sired allowance for horses looking for their second career win at the end of seven furlongs on a fast all-weather track.
Ridden by Pietro Moran for trainer Kevin Attard and owners Canuck Racing Club and X-Men Racing, Thundermaker broke alertly, moved straight to the lead, and controlled the race from the outset. He set fractions of 23.21, 46.67, and 1:11.33 before finishing the seven furlongs in 1:24.31.
The 3-year-old gelding by Modernist out of Miss Matzo, by Royal Academy, entered the race with tactical speed and proved able to carry it – despite taking on older, more experienced competition benefiting from winter-racing fitness.
After taking command early, Thundermaker remained comfortable through the turn before being asked in upper stretch. As Lean Music Machine, Wild Card, and post-time favourite Imyourmedicineman tried to close in, Thundermaker – in the words of track announcer Robert Geller – “put everything together straight off the bat”. He dug in, found another gear, and put the race away to win by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:24.31.
The victory was the second of Thundermaker’s career and improved his record to 2-1-1 from six starts. It was a sharp seasonal return and a professional front-running performance from a lightly-raced Ontario-bred who continues to move in the right direction.