Debut winners step up in Funny Cide, Seeking the Ante
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A couple of New York-bred 2-year-olds who dominated their opposition while debuting here earlier in the meet figure to be tough to beat when they step up against stakes company on Friday’s New York-bred Showcase Day program at Saratoga.
Sudden Surprise will be odds-on to defeat just four rivals in the $200,000 Funny Cide Stakes for 2-year-olds. She’s All Ready faces six opponents in the $200,000 Seeking the Ante for 2-year-old fillies. Both races are at 6 1/2 furlongs.
Sudden Surprise, a son of Giant Surprise, led throughout to post a 2 3/4-length victory over a sloppy track July 30. His 89 Beyer Speed Figure is easily the best of the field in the Funny Cide.
“I was very pleased with his first race,” said Todd Pletcher, who trains the homebred Sudden Surprise for the Repole Stable.
Pletcher noted that Inside Straight, a stablemate of Sudden Surprise, finished fourth in that race and came back to win.
Sudden Surprise should face his stiffest challenge from Manipulated, who in his debut rallied from near the rear of the pack to a four-length victory in the six-furlong Rockville Centre Stakes at Belmont Park.
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Dr. Shane continues to improve and will get Lasix for his rematch with Manipulated on Friday. Dr. Shane, an easy debut winner at Belmont during the spring, contested the pace before finishing a tiring third in the Rockville Centre.
No Entiendo has run well in both of his starts, missing by a neck after leading nearly the entire way in his debut at Belmont before returning to wire maiden special weight company here four weeks later.
Funny Cide Stakes (race 1)
Key contenders
Sudden Surprise (Beyer: 89)
◗ Although he led throughout in his debut, jockey John Velazquez might choose to have him lay off the speed of No Entiendo in the Funny Cide.
“We’ll let our horse run his race, but it’s nice to have what appears to be the other speed inside of us,” said Pletcher.
Manipulated (Beyer: 72)
◗ He has worked well over the local strip, going five furlongs in 1:01.21 on Aug. 13. He worked easy as can be to the wire while giving the impression that he will relish the added distance Friday.
No Entiendo (Beyers: 69-48)
◗ Showed big improvement in his second start but is a question mark stretching out from five furlongs to 6 1/2 furlongs with the favorite likely to be breathing down his neck.
SEEKING THE ANTE STAKES (RACE 5)
Seeking the Ante favorite She’s All Ready just cruised to an 8 1/4-length win Aug. 21 for trainer Jim Ryerson and owner Nirvana Stable. The daughter of Girolamo received a 72 Beyer, which could have been much higher had jockey Kendrick Carmouche let her run all the way to the wire in the 5 1/2-furlong race.
“She ran great first time and has trained well up to this race,” said Ryerson. “She won with a little bit left and galloped out well in her first start, so the extra distance should be fine. She’s got to improve, I guess, but she looks like a nice filly, so I’m really excited about this race.”
Among She’s All Ready’s opponents in the Seeking the Ante are debut winners Lemon Liqueur and Backwood Bay. Pletcher will send out Super Surprise, who finished third behind Backwood Bay after contesting the pace while launching her career Aug. 15.
Ben’s Girl, Crowd Control, and Out of Nowhere complete the field.
Key contenders
She’s All Ready (Beyer: 72)
◗ Not only does she stand out on Beyer Speed Figures over the rest of the field, this filly also holds a decided pace edge, according to the Randy Moss Pace Figures, having run 4 to 5 points quicker at each of the first two calls in her debut than her nearest likely pursuer, Super Surprise.
Lemon Liqueur (Beyer: 62)
◗ Drew the rail but already proved her mettle from the inside by winning her debut out of post 1 here July 24.
Backwood Bay (Beyer: 57)
◗ Loses jockey Jose Ortiz, who was aboard for her maiden win but chose Lemon Liqueur in the Seeking the Ante, but picks up the meet’s leading rider, Ortiz’s brother Irad Ortiz Jr. Irad Ortiz has combined with trainer Linda Rice to win at a 19 percent clip over the past two years, according to DRF Formulator.