NYRA/Adam Coglianese
By Sarah Mace
Last out in the one-mile Sleepy Hollow at Belmont Park on October 24 Mike Repole homebred Sudden Surprise “threw a clunker,” in the words of regular rider John Velazquez, which is a pretty strong statement, considering the colt had won his first three career starts, including the Funny Cide and Bertram F. Bongard Stakes, and only finished fourth in the Sleepy Hollow behind Get Jets. The talented juvenile erased the one blot on his copy book at the Big A on Saturday with a decisive win in the six-furlong $100,000 Notebook Stakes.
Figuring that the bay colt, who is by Repole’s leading New York freshman sire Giant Surprise, would benefit from the turnback in distance from a mile to six furlongs and an advantageous draw in the outside post, backers bet Sudden Surprise down to 30 cents on the dollar in the field of six by post time.
After a good break, Sudden Surprise settled at the flank of 11-1 Love that Jazz, who came out gunning from the inside post, and prompted the pace through a snappy first quarter mile in 22.17.
Drawing even with the leader and racing stride-for-stride through the far turn, Sudden Surprise emerged with the lead at the quarter pole and edged away in the stretch to win by 1 3/4 lengths. After a half in 45.18 the final time for six panels was 1:11.27.
Dr. Shane, winner of the New York Breeders’ Futurity in his prior start, made a strong late run from fourth to get a neck in front of pacesetter Love That Jazz. Completing the order of finish were No Entiendo, Steve’s Image and My Man Al. [VIDEO]
Winning trainer Todd Pletcher praised the colt’s effort and drew attention to the turnback in distance. “Sometimes the ones you’re supposed to win are the hardest ones to win. You never take anything for granted,” said Pletcher. “The horse had trained very well, we were backing up to a distance he’s had success at and we drew a good post, but I think this year’s crop of New York-breds is the strongest I’ve seen in a while. You know these races are going to be competitive, but I was pleased with his effort.”
NYRA/Adam Coglianese
Jockey John Velazquez also liked the performance “Perfect trip. We had a nice post-position on the outside and I got to watch a little bit on who was going to be the speed and move right to them. He’s back to his good form and it was pretty easy.”
Velazquez tended to discount the cutback in distance as the main factor in the victory, however. “We’ve been talking about it and I don’t think the cutback in distance made any difference. I just don’t think he was quite right last time. He broke to the lead like he was going to go and he didn’t go anywhere, so we don’t know why he just threw that clunker but today he showed up.”
In his young career Sudden Surprise has now won four of five starts, including three stakes races, and compiled a hefty earnings bankroll of $326,300.
Foaled at Mill Creek Farm in Stillwater, Sudden Surprise is the first foal out of Ready and Good, a placed Florida-bred runner by More than Ready, also trained by Pletcher for Repole, who had a lone career start. 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.
Sire Giant Surprise, the leading freshmen sire in New York and seventh on the national list with four winners and two stakes winners from 10 runners, stands at Rockridge Stud in Hudson. He likewise won his lone start for Repole/Pletcher in a much-anticipated debut at Saratoga four summers ago during which he suffered a career-ending non-displaced condylar fracture.
