Suddenbreakingnews Impressive in Southwest
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Suddenbreakingnews closed from last to win the Southwest Stakes. (Photos by Coady Photography)
By Tom LaMarra, @BH_TLaMarra
Samuel Henderson's Suddenbreakingnews, last of 14 heading into the far turn, rallied strongly in the stretch to win the $500,000 Southwest Stakes 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. Collected was fourth.
ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY LEADERBOARD
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.
SUDDENBREAKINGNEWS
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 at Oaklawn for his next start.
For an Equibase chart of the race, click here.