Big Thinker!

The stable's latest superstar, Think Big, took a major step up in class in his stride with a magnificent victory in Tuesday's $400,000 G2 Valvoline Global Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland.

Godolphin's four-year-old son of Twirling Candy was going into the race off the back of an eye-catching win in a 5 1/2 furlong allowance optional claiming on the turf at Fair Grounds.

Unlike that day (when he was a little slow from the gates), Think Big was much sharper in the Shakertown. He stuck to his guns and bit-by-bit, ground down the long-time leader close to the wire to record his first graded stakes victory (to make it 3-out-of-3 on the turf so far in his career) by half a length.

"I've known him for a while and I've breezed him a lot," said jockey Ben Curtis after the race. "We shortened him up and put him on the turf, and he seemed to grow a fifth leg; he really improved with that. Every run he's had, he's improved, and he's done it in a different style. He came from last and rounded the field last time (to win an allowance at Fair Grounds Feb. 7), and today he sat off near the pace and ground it out to the line. So he's versatile ground-wise, also surface-wise, so he's just a dream horse to have, really."

Think Big has really come into his own since being dropped in trip. And this strapping and well-connected Godolphin homebred (he's by the talented stakes winning Always Thinking) sure looks like he's going to be a major player in top turf sprints this year.

And now for the weekend entries:

Saturday

Keeneland

Dear Louise - Race 8, Allowance

Oaklawn Park

Advanced Spirit - Race 4, Maiden Special Weight