Is NY-Bred Sudden Surprise Headed to BC?
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Photo: Coglianese Photos
Sudden Surprise wins the Bertram F. Bongard Stakes.
Repole Stable's homebred Sudden Surprise remained undefeated in three starts after he grabbed the early lead and just held off Get Jets in the $150,000 Bertram F. Bongard Stakes for New York-bred 2-year-olds Sept. 27 at Belmont Park.
The state-bred stakes could very well produce an entrant or two in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) given the way the colts have performed thus far.
"I joked with (trainer) Todd (Pletcher) that our next start will be either in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile or the Sleepy Hollow Stakes (for New York-breds)," Mike Repole said after the race. "This race came up like a grade I New York-bred 2-year-old stakes, probably the toughest New York-bred 2-year-old stakes race in history.
"I couldn't believe the two horses I saw in the race. It's so cool because he's by my stallion Giant Surprise , who is throwing some really nice horses. Our horse is three-for-three and he has done everything right. He just keeps getting better."
Ridden by John Velazquez, Sudden Surprise, who won the state-bred Funny Cide Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in his previous start, set an unpressured pace with fractions of :23.91 for the opening quarter-mile, :47.22 for a half-mile, and 1:10.90 for six furlongs. Championofthenile, who broke his maiden at Saratoga, stalked throughout but couldn't gain on the leader.
Get Jets, who won his career debut in a New York-bred maiden test at Saratoga and scratched from the open Hall of Fame Stakes at Parx Racing Sept. 26 to race at Belmont, rallied along the rail after a bottled-up trip and just missed catching Sudden Surprise in a quality effort. Championofthenile held for third.
Sudden Surprise completed the seven furlongs in 1:23.52 on a fast track and paid $9.90 to win as the third choice. Out of the More Than Ready mare Ready and Good, Sudden Surprise easily won his debut at Saratoga July 30.
Sudden Surprise and Get Jets, by Scat Daddy , haven't raced further than seven furlongs, though added distance doesn't appear to be an obstacle. The Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland is at 1 1/16 miles around two turns.