Breeders' Cup Juvenile a possibility after Sudden Surprise takes Bongard

ELMONT, N.Y. - Hot maiden winners Championofthenile and Get Jets were the fancy of the betting public, but it was the stakes winner Sudden Surprise who got the better of those two, turning back an inside bid from Get Jets to win Sunday’s $150,000 Bertram F. Bongard Stakes for New York-bred juvenile males by a neck at Belmont Park.

Get Jets, who won his debut by 4 1/2 lengths at Saratoga, finished 1 1/4 lengths clear of Championofthenile, the $840,000 2-year-old-in-training purchase who had recorded the highest Beyer Speed Figure (94) by a maiden-winning juvenile male this year. Manipulated and Steve’s Image completed the order of finish.

The victory by Sudden Surprise was his third in as many starts, all against New York-bred company. It will have his connections - owner/breeder Mike Repole and trainer Todd Pletcher - giving some consideration to running their son of Giant Surprise in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile next month at Keeneland.

“As far as New York-bred stakes go this was really a salty race; arguably the second-and-third place finishers were two of the most impressive winners of maiden races at Saratoga,” Pletcher said.

Referring to the Breeders’ Cup, Pletcher said, “Not the craziest thing we ever thought about.”

Repole, said he thought Championofthenile, the 6-5 favorite Sunday, and Get Jets, the 8-5 second choice, belonged running in next Saturday’s Grade 1 Champagne. Of the Breeders’ Cup, Repole said “you have to give it consideration. Going into today, there was no consideration.”

Breaking from post 4 under John Velazquez, Sudden Surprise broke on top and opened up a length lead running a quarter-mile in 23.91 seconds. He maintained a clear advantage through a half-mile in 47.22. Though Get Jets was trying to run at him from the inside, Sudden Surprise held him off.

Sudden Surprise, a son of Giant Surprise, covered the seven furlongs in 1:23.52 and returned $9.90 as the third choice.

Pletcher and Velazquez went into the race prepared to have Sudden Surprise lay second to Championofthenile. But when Sudden Surprise broke so sharp, and Championofthenile broke to the outside, Velazquez took advantage of being on the lead.

“I was prepared to do either or because I knew [Championofthenile] had a lot of speed but my horse out-broke him right away,” Velazquez said.

Though the fractions were slow, Velazquez said the main track Sunday was slower than the previous day.

“The track is a tick slower than yesterday,” Velazquez said. “It’s very compact and has a lot of moisture in it. From yesterday to today two different tracks _ completely different.”

Tony Dutrow, the trainer of Get Jet, said he didn’t think his horse was comfortable racing on the inside, but nonetheless was happy with his colt’s race.

“Didn’t look real comfortable in there, but it that’s good experience for him,” Dutrow said. “All good. Finished up into a slow pace. Only his second race, I’m happy.”

Melodic wins Joseph A. Gimma

Earlier on the card, Melodic, after breaking on top under Kendrick Carmouche, sat fourth behind a three-ply speed battle, rallied five wide in the stretch, and gradually wore down the front-runners to win the $150,000 Joseph A. Gimma Stakes for New York-bred juvenile fillies by three lengths.

Frosty Margarita finished second, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Surprise Cameo. Super Surprise, the even-money favorite, and Ben’s Girl completed the order of finish.

Melodic, a daughter of Tale of the Cat owned by Jeff Treadway and trained by Leah Gyarmati, is now 2 for 2. She covered seven furlongs in 1:25.01 and returned $7.10 as the third choice.