Big Thistledown Score for Big Bucksalot

With more than four months remaining in the 2026 racing year, it appears that Neolithic has a good chance to break his single-season personal best of 52 winners; Big Bucksalot’s daylight score at Thistledown made him winner No. 42.

Alexander Chavez was aboard Big Bucksalot in the race at a flat mile, and they were off slowly, settling into sixth place down the backstretch. When Chavez roused the 6-year-old gelding coming to the turn, he inhaled the pack, took over heading into the lane and cruised to the wire in front by 3 1/2 lengths, clocked in 1:40.14.

Big Bucksalot paid $3.80 and earned a check for $7,080, lifting his career total to $113,997. The gelding bred by Julie Jackson now sports a record of 8-4-6 in 38 starts.