Odds on Thunderello Drop

Those who liked Thunderello at 48-1 in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint three weeks ago will have to settle for a much shorter price on the 3-year-old Montbrook colt today.

A hard-fought, half-length loser to favored Orientate at Arlington Park in his first appearance in a graded stakes, Thunderello is the likely favorite against seven other sprinters in the $300,000 Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash at Laurel Park in Maryland.

One of his rivals in the DeFrancis, a Grade I stakes race, is Avanzado, who has won three in a row since coming to the U.S. earlier this year.

Trained by Doug O’Neill for the Cees Stable, the 5-year-old Argentine-bred won two races at Del Mar before shipping to Belmont Park where he won the Forest Hills Handicap on Oct. 6.

Meanwhile, Calder will offer an all-stakes pick four, starting with the $150,000 Bonnie Heath Turf Cup Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on the grass, then the $200,000 Elmer Heubeck Distaff Handicap at 1 1/16 miles, the $150,000 Jack Dudley Sprint Handicap at six furlongs and the $200,000 Carl Rose Classic Handicap at 1 1/8 miles.

Race of the day: Puxa Saco, who made a successful California debut in the Anoakia at Santa Anita on Oct. 20, will bid for her fourth win in five tries in the $100,000 Moccasin at seven furlongs at Hollywood Park.

Who’s hot: Richard Dutrow Jr. The trainer leads the Aqueduct standings and won with 13 of his first 32 starters.

Who’s not: The field in today’s second at Golden Gate Fields. The nine maiden claimers are a combined 0 for 101.

Exotically speaking: A pick three with Binny’s Trick in the sixth, Miss Continental, Excessive Warrior and My Babycakes in the seventh and Marshall Rooster, Studio Time, Don’t Holler and Trilogy in the seventh.

Winners (through Thursday): Previous day/meet total: 1/11. Money: Previous day/meet total: $7.20/$57.60. Total money bet: $114.