Suddenbreakingnews Last to First in Southwest

Samuel Henderson's Suddenbreakingnews, last of 14 heading into the far turn, rallied strongly in the stretch to win the $500,000 Southwest Stakes (gr. III) Feb. 15 at Oaklawn Park.

The 3-year-old Mineshaft   gelding had five races, all at Remington Park, at 2. He won the Clevor Trevor Stakes in November and finished second, a nose behind Discreetness, in the Springboard Mile for trainer Donnie Von Hemel.

Suddenbreakingnews rallied past Whitmore, who also closed from behind, and American Dubai, who had taken the lead in the stretch.

The pace in the Southwest was honest, as Siding Springs grabbed the early lead and maintained it through an opening quarter-mile in :23.10, a half-mile in :47.06, and six furlongs in 1:12.30. He was tracked by American Dubai, who bid for the lead in the stretch and took over for a brief period before Whitmore rallied past.

It was Suddenbreakingnews, however, who had the momentum. He blew past to win by 2 3/4 lengths over Whitmore, who finished a half-length ahead of American Dubai. Collected, the 5-2 favorite, had aim in the lane but flattened out to finish fourth.

The winner covered the 1 1/16 miles on a track rated good in 1:45.14 under Luis Quinonez, who has ridden Suddenbreakingnews in all six of his starts. Suddenbreakingnews, who paid $10.20 to win as part of a Von Hemel-trained entry with Synchrony, now has four wins and two seconds, and is a nose and a neck away from being undefeated.

Von Hemel said he was concerned about the gelding breaking from post 13, but Quinonez dropped back to save ground.

"He had to drop back to the tail and just make his late run," the trainer said. "Considering the post and the pace, it was probably to his advantage."

Bred by Branch Equine in Kentucky out of the Afleet Alex   mare Uchitel, Suddenbreakingnews is most likely headed to the Rebel Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn for his next start.