NYRA/Adam Coglianese
by Sarah Mace
Sudden Surprise, a homebred for Mike Repole by New York freshman sire Giant Surprise, won his 5 1/2-furlong debut with ease at Saratoga on July 30 in the slop. Four weeks later, stretching out to 6 1/2 furlongs over a fast track, he kicked off the Saratoga New York-bred Showcase card by mastering the field of the $200,000 Funny Cide and giving his young sire his first stakes winner.
Out of the gate in good order along with a quartet of rivals, 4-5 favorite Sudden Surprise hustled toward the front under John Velazquez and contested the early pace with No Entiendo at the rail and Dr. Shane between horses through a first quarter-mile in 22.22.
Entering the turn three-wide, Sudden Surprise was able to move inside a path as No Entiendo began to tire. He then edged into the lead around the quarter pole after a half-mile in 45.28.
In the stretch Manipulated, winner of the Rockville Center at Belmont in his debut earlier in the spring, joined the chase, but Sudden Surprise drew away, opening up daylight on his way to a two-length victory in a final time of 1:16.42. Manipulated finished second followed across the line by Dr. Shane, Guaranteed and No Entiendo. [VIDEO]
NYRA/Adam Coglianese
Jockey John Velazquez, said, “The important thing was that he broke well, and I was able to secure a good position. After that, the rest was easy. He did it very easily, responded well and finished up good.”
Trainer Todd Pletcher added, “We felt like he’d been training well. He was very professional in his debut and he came back and ran another big race today. I’m very proud of him. We thought he’d be forwardly placed. We didn’t want to get into any speed duels. We felt like we were outside the other main speed so we just kind of let [jockey] Johnny [Velazquez] see how the race unfolded. He kicked away against what appears to be a pretty nice horse, so it was a good effort.”
Pletcher indicated that Sudden Surprise’s next date with the starter could be the Sleepy Hollow at Belmont on Empire Showcase Day on October 24.
Owner Mike Repole, beaming in the company of his family, including with its newest addition, a 10-week-old daughter named Gioia Mia (Italian for “My Joy”), said, “It’s Gioia’s first trip to the track and the winner’s circle. It was her first race. It took me 40 years to get to the winner’s circle. It took her 10 weeks. She’s a lot more efficient than I am.”
Repole also wanted to talk about the colt’s sire Giant Surprise, who stands at Rockridge Stud in Hudson. Giant Surprise won his lone start for Repole/Pletcher four years ago by 4 1/4 lengths in a much-anticipated debut at Saratoga. He completed the six furlongs in 1:10.23 and earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure, but unfortunately he suffered a non-displaced condylar fracture in that start and had to be vanned off the track and retired.
Said Repole, “It was meaningful to watch this horse run here given what happened to [his sire] Giant Surprise. Giant Surprise [debuted] the day of the Jim Dandy in 2011, a promising 2-year-old. Stay Thirsty was also in the race. We came down to the winner’s circle, like we did today, and [Giant Surprise] didn’t make it back. Todd liked him. He was super talented with great pedigree and great conformation.”
Foaled at Mill Creek Farm in Stillwater, Sudden Surprise is the first foal out of Ready and Good, a placed Florida-bred runner by Ready and Good, also trained by Pletcher, who had a lone career start for Repole. She has visited Repole stallions exclusively, and has a yearling filly by Overdriven and a weanling filly by Stay Thirsty. She was bred this year to Uncle Mo.
Newly-minted stakes winner Sudden Surprise has earned $163,800 from his two winning starts.
