ALL FIRED UP THUNDER GULCH TOOK THE TRAVERS AND LIT OUT AFTER CIGAR

A horrible faux pas was committed last Saturday at proper old
Saratoga. An exceptional horse, maybe a great one, showed up for
the $750,000 Travers Stakes and was greeted with a coolness that
could be felt even in the 88-degree heat. In a place that sells
its love for the thoroughbred at every boutique on Broadway,
this behavior was as inexcusable as going facedown in the punch
bowl at one of Marylou Whitney's parties.

What happened was this: When the fans who were jammed five deep
around the walking ring got their first look at Kentucky Derby
and Belmont Stakes winner Thunder Gulch, they applauded politely
and murmured dutifully. It was a far cry from last year, when
Holy Bull was greeted as if he were the second coming of
Secretariat.

The apathy didn't bother Thunder Gulch. Heck, not much bothers
this horse when it's time for business--though a few minutes
later a loud bang did cause him to rear in the starting gate and
get off awkwardly. But, said jockey Gary Stevens, "he's such an
athlete he needed only two strides to get back into it." Thunder
Gulch surged to the lead at the top of the stretch and went on
to a 4-1/2-length victory in the 126th running of America's
oldest race for 3-year-olds.

The victory, Thunder Gulch's sixth in eight starts this season,
established him as the most accomplished 3-year-old colt of the
decade and set up a showdown with Cigar, the 5-year-old handicap
wonder, for Horse of the Year honors. It also led trainer D.
Wayne Lukas to suggest he just might have something special.
"Pull the records of some of the so-called 'great' 3-year-olds
of the past and this horse's record is going to jump right out,"
he said.

Lukas has only himself to blame for empty seats on the Thunder
Gulch bandwagon. Going into the Derby, Lukas said repeatedly
that the colt was a cut below Timber Country, last year's
2-year-old champion, and the filly Serena's Song. Last week
Lukas was still characterizing Thunder Gulch thusly: "He's a
reserve quarterback in a lot of ways. He just keeps coming off
the bench, getting the job done."

Those remarks came just before the Travers draw, at which Lukas
announced that Timber Country was being retired with a torn
tendon in his left foreleg. Even in absentia Timber Country
stole the show.

It almost seemed that Thunder Gulch was slighted in stable
assignments, too. He was so far from the main track that to get
there, "We would have to come through the barn area, cross 40
acres of parking lot, cross Union Avenue and go through the
picnic area," said Lukas. Thunder Gulch was merely bunking with
the other Lukas horses, but the distance was so great that he
came to the race in a van--"a limo," the trainer called it. The
arrival was fashionably late. "They don't start a fight until
the champion gets there," said Lukas.

Afterward the champion was led to the barn. No limo this trip,
which was a good thing, because Thunder Gulch finally got his
tribute. At every step the little colt was applauded. As the
Spa's high-society crowds know, the rule of thumb for a
distinguished guest is better late than never.

COLOR PHOTO: LOU CAPOZZOLA Thunder Gulch started shakily, then blew past the field in the stretch. [Gary Stevens riding Thunder Gulch]