R Sunday Surprise, full sister to California Chrome, breaks maiden

DEL MAR, Calif. – R Sunday Surprise, a 3-year-old full-sister to two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome, won for the first time in her eighth start in a turf maiden race for California-bred fillies and mares in Thursday’s eighth race.

Ridden by Israel Ocampo, R Sunday Surprise ($16.40) closed from sixth in the final quarter-mile to win by a head over 2-1 favorite Halo Ahead.

R Sunday Surprise was bred by Perry Martin and Steve Coburn who bred and raced California Chrome from his career debut in 2013 through the middle of 2015. California Chrome was the 2014 Horse of the Year in a season in which he won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

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Coburn later sold his portion of California Chrome before the popular horse began his 2016 campaign, which ended with another Horse of the Year title. California Chrome has since started a stud career.

R Sunday Surprise is co-owned by a partnership that includes Coburn’s Silver State Racing. After Thursday’s win, Coburn dedicated the victory to Lucky Pulpit, R Sunday Surprise’s late stallion, and Larry and Marianne Williams, who owned Lucky Pulpit.

R Sunday Surprise was third in two of her five starts in 2016 when trained by Doug O’Neill. The filly was turned over to trainer Kristin Mulhall earlier this year and was third in her 2017 debut in June before finishing fifth here on July 20.

“We gave her some time off, which she really needed,” Coburn said. “It’s good to see her mature the way she has.

“Kristin has gotten her to relax.”