Suddenbreakingnews Works for Arkansas Derby
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Photo: Coady Photography
Suddenbreakingnews.
Multiple stakes winner Suddenbreakingnews worked a half-mile in :48 4/5 on a cloudy April 1 morning at Oaklawn Park in preparation for the $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. I) April 16.
Under regular rider Luis Quinonez, the son of Mineshaft breezed shortly after the renovation break. Clockers caught Suddenbreakingnews in splits of :12 2/5 and :25 2/5 before galloping out 5 furlongs in 1:00 4/5. It was his first move back since a troubled fifth in the March 19 Rebel Stakes (gr. II).
Temperatures were in the mid-50s when Suddenbreakingnews breezed over a fast track.
Trained by Donnie K. Von Hemel, the bay gelding began his 3-year-old campaign with a last-to-first victory in the $500,000 Southwest Stakes (gr. III) Feb. 15 at Oaklawn.
Currently ranked 28th on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 10 points, Suddenbreakingnews will need to run well in the Arkansas Derby, which is worth 100-40-20-10 points toward a place in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), in order to secure a chance at the Run for the Roses.