No 'Surprise' in New York Stallion Stakes
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Photo: Coglianese Photos
Sudden Surprise wins the New York Stallion Series Dec. 27.
Repole Stable's Sudden Surprise, a homebred by Giant Surprise , fought off Dr. Shane to win the $150,000 Great White Way New York Stallion Stakes for 2-year-olds Dec. 27 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Jockey John Velazquez made a rare December appearance at Aqueduct to ride the Todd Pletcher-trained Sudden Surprise, whom he has ridden in all six of his starts. Sudden Surprise, now five-for-six, has won four New York-bred stakes in 2015.
Velazquez put Sudden Surprise on the lead in the six-furlong event with Dr. Shane, winner of the New York Breeders' Futurity at Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack, in pursuit through fractions of :22.92 for the opening quarter-mile and :45.88 for a half-mile.
Dr. Shane appeared to have taken aim in the final sixteenth but couldn't catch Sudden Surprise, who held on to win by a half-length in 1:11.38 on a track rated good. Sudden Surprise, the heavy favorite, paid $2.60 to win.
Sudden Surprise now has $416,300 in earnings for Repole Stable, which raced Giant Surprise and stands him at Rockridge Stud in New York.
Pletcher assistant Byron Hughes said Sudden Surprise would remain "on the New York-bred trail" when he returns in 2016.