Got Thunder rallied from next-to-last coming out of the final turn and then needed every inch of Monmouth Park’s 990-foot stretch to catch 6-5 favorite Paradise Alley in the last jump for a nose victory in Sunday’s featured $57,500 allowance optional claimer.

Ridden by Samuel Camacho, Jr., Got Thunder benefited from quick early fractions of :21.78 and :44.27 to close with a furious rush in the six-furlong dash. David Jacobsen owns and trains the 5-year-old gelded son of Arrogate, who recorded his fifth career win.

The winning time was 1:10.21, with Got Thunder paying $25.80 to win.

“He’s a closer. I saw the way the race might play out since there was a lot of speed, so I knew I was going to be behind,” said Camacho. “The good thing about him is I know him. I know what he likes and doesn’t like. The main thing for me was to stay outside and keep him clear.”

Got Thunder was seventh behind a wall of six horses through the opening half in the eight-horse field for 3-year-olds and up and still had to pass six horses when he wheeled out of the final turn with full momentum. With Paradise Valley having put away the dogged challenge of River Dog in mid-stretch the only drama was whether Got Thunder could catch him.

“It was close, really close, but he was coming on so strong,” said Camacho. “I could see at the wire that he got his nose there first.”

Paradise Valley was a half-length better than third-place finisher River Dog.

Racing resumes at Monmouth Park with the final Friday card of the meet next weekend.