California Chrome's little sister makes first start

ARCADIA, Calif. – The 2-year-old filly R Sunday Surprise has a lot to live up to when she makes her career debut in the first race Thursday at Santa Anita.

Sired by Lucky Pulpit and produced by Love the Chase, R Sunday Surprise is a full sister to California Chrome, the winner of the 2014 Kentucky Derby, the 2016 Dubai World Cup, and more than $12 million. That is all fine and dandy, but can the filly run? According to trainer Doug O’Neill, she definitely can run.

“All her works have been real willing,” O’Neill said. “We haven’t seen her get tired yet in any of her works. I don’t know if she’ll win first time out. She looks like a filly that, as the races go on and she gets experience, we’re going to have a lot of fun with.”

R Sunday Surprise was bred by Perry Martin and Steve Coburn, who bred California Chrome. Martin and Coburn have since dissolved their partnership. R Sunday Surprise is owned by a group that includes Coburn.

O’Neill was asked about similarities between R Sunday Surprise and California Chrome, which was not even a fair question.

“We’ll, she’s chestnut, so she’s got that going,” he said.

California Chrome, a chestnut, has four white feet and a white blaze; R Sunday Surprise has a white blaze and only a splash of white on her left hind. When she makes her debut Thursday, the main concern for O’Neill is the start.

“Her only hiccups have been around the gate,” he said, acknowledging assistance from the Santa Anita gate crew. “She can be a little hesitant loading.”

R Sunday Surprise worked from the gate Monday, three furlongs in 36.20.

R Sunday Surprise is the third runner produced by Love the Chase. California Chrome was her first, and a full sister, Hope’s Love, has lost all five of her starts, all in Northern California.