Sudden Surprise scores in Funny Cide
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Sudden Surprise was no surprise.
Sent away favored in a short field, Sudden Surprise scored a handy two-length victory in the $200,000 Funny Cide Stakes for New York-bred 2-year-olds, which kicked off a program showcasing statebreds on Travers Eve at Saratoga.
Sudden Surprise ($3.80), who runs as a homebred for Mike Repole, was coming off a 2 3/4-length debut win against statebreds on July 30 at Saratoga.
"We felt like he'd been training well," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "He was very professional in his debut, and came back and ran another big race today."
Sudden Surprise vied for the lead early with Dr. Shane and No Entiendo through a snappy first quarter of 22.22 seconds. The eventual winner inched his way clear approaching the quarter pole, and extended his advantage in upper stretch when set down by John Velazquez. Manipulated, who was well-placed behind the leading trio early, made a solid run into the final furlong, but Sudden Surprise easily held sway under a strong hand ride from Velazquez. He stopped the clock in 1:16.42 for 6 1/2 furlongs.
"We thought he'd be forwardly placed," Pletcher said. "We didn't want to get into any speed duels. We were outside the other main speed, so we let Johnny see how the pace unfolded. ... [He kicked away] against what appears to be a really nice horse."
After Manipulated, it was another 5 1/2 lengths back to Dr. Shane in third. Guaranteed and the fading No Entiendo rounded out the order of finish.
Sudden Surprise is from the first crop of stallion Giant Surprise, who won his only start by 4 1/4 lengths at Saratoga for Repole and Pletcher. He was vanned off with a career-ending injury. Now standing at Rockridge Stud in Hudson, N.Y., he is the state's second-leading freshman sire to date, and Sudden Surprise is his first stakes winner.
"He's off to a phenomenal start," Pletcher said of Giant Surprise. "In addition to being a talented colt, he was a beautiful colt, really well-built, so we're hoping he'll continue to produce horses that run and look like this. So far, he's off to a fantastic start."