Doc Sullivan wins Thunder Rumble; Khali Magic takes Staten Island
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Doc Sullivan cut back in distance for the $125,000 Thunder Rumble division of the New York Stallion Series and was full of run through the lane as he won by 5 1/2 lengths Saturday at Aqueduct.
Dr. Kraft finished second, while it was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third to Bank Frenzy.
The Thunder Rumble was one of two restricted stakes on the card. The $125,000 Staten Island division of the NYSS was won by Khali Magic ($27.16), who secured her first career stakes win at the age of 7. The track was sloppy and sealed for both races, which were early on the card.
Doc Sullivan ($3.40) was turning back from 1 1/8 miles to seven furlongs for the Thunder Rumble, off a runner-up finish in the Empire Classic. He raced with the pace from the start, pushing leader Dr. Kraft through an opening quarter in 22.92 seconds and a half-mile in 45.79. Doc Sullivan came wide into the stretch and went on to a dominant win, while covering the distance in 1:22.31.
“He always tries hard, this horse, and I thought seven-eighths was perfect for him,” winning rider Joel Rosario told the New York Racing Association. “He won going that distance before, so that was good. He ran great. He always breaks sharp and he was the best horse in the race.”
John Ortiz trains Doc Sullivan for Tristar Farm.
Doc Sullivan is a son of Solomini who has now won 6 of 19 starts and earned $657,840. He was winning the third stakes race of his career in the Thunder Rumble.
In the Staten Island for fillies and mares, Khali Magic moved to the lead soon after the start and held off the late charge of Soloshot for a half-length win. There was a claim of foul by the rider of the runner-up against the winner, but stewards made no change to the order of finish. Intentious finished third, three lengths behind Soloshot.
Khali Magic set fractions of 23.15 for the opening quarter and 46.38 for the half-mile before going on to cover the seven-furlong distance in 1:23.84.
“I tried to break good because she loves the sloppy track,” winning rider Ruben Silvera told NYRA.
Silvera was aboard for trainer Rudy Rodriguez, who also co-owns Khali Magic with Steven Speranza.
Khali Magic is a daughter of Al Khali who has now won 12 of 48 starts for earnings of $776,768.
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