American Classic Pedigrees
  • Home
  • Books
  • Articles
  • Hoofprints
  • Horse Profiles
    • Horse Profiles A-E
    • Horse Profiles F-K
    • Horse Profiles L-Q
    • Horse Profiles R-Z
  • Links
  • About ACP
    • Author
    • Contact
    • For Contributors

2016 Triple Crown Trail: News Flash

2/16/2016

0 Comments

 
He's consistent, he's got the right pedigree, and he's now a Grade III winner with 10 points toward a Kentucky Derby (USA-I) starting berth. "He" is Suddenbreakingnews, and his strong last-to-first run in Sunday's Southwest Stakes (USA-III)---his 2016 debut---carried him into the spotlight as the latest new face on the 2016 Triple Crown trail.

Prior to yesterday's race, Suddenbreakingnews' best moment had been a win in the listed Clever Trevor Stakes last year. He'd previously run second by a nose to Discreetness in the listed Remington Springboard Mile Stakes as well and had a juvenile record of 5-2-3-0, all at Remington Park.

A juvenile season spent racing in Oklahoma is not where one normally expects to find a potential Classic horse, but on paper, Suddenbreakingnews is the kind of horse that has every right to be improving. A son of 2003 American Horse of the Year Mineshaft, who won his honors as a 4-year-old, the gelding is a grandson of 1992 Belmont Stakes (USA-I) winner and American Horse of the Year A.P. Indy and a great-grandson of 1977 American Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year Seattle Slew. Generally speaking, Mineshaft's progeny haven't been precocious and have been better at 3 and beyond, so Suddenbreakingnews is developing right on schedule as far as the sire's side of his pedigree goes.

If the dam's side of his pedigree means anything, Suddenbreakingnews should not only keep improving with age but should relish increased distance as well. He is the second named foal and second winner for his dam Uchitel, a daughter of 2005 Preakness (USA-I) and Belmont winner Afleet Alex. Although Uchitel failed to win in three starts, she is a half sister to multiple Grade I winner Composure and 2008 West Virginia Derby Stakes (USA-III) winner Ready Set, both by Touch Gold. Composure, in turn, is the dam of this year's Royal Delta Stakes (USA-II) winner Penwith (by Bernardini).

Uchitel's dam, Party Cited, is by the great stayer and stamina sire Alleged, a two-time winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (FR-I). She herself won the 1993 Yerba Buena Handicap (USA-IIIT) over 11 furlongs, so there is an abundance of stamina close up in Suddenbreakingnews' pedigree. In fact, it will be more of a surprise if he doesn't stay Classic distances than if he does.

Suddenbreakingnews' main vulnerability is also his great strength: a very long, efficient stride. As he prefers to come from well off the pace, he is dependent on finding clear sailing ahead so that he can keep his momentum going; few horses of his type recover well from having to check, and that's always a concern in the Kentucky Derby, where jockeying for position in a large field is a given. Nonetheless, if Suddenbreakingnews continues to mature and develop, he's going to be an exciting one to watch as the road to the Classics continues.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I'm Avalyn Hunter, an author, pedigree researcher and longtime racing fan.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014

    RSS Feed

© 2014-2023 by Avalyn Hunter. All rights reserved. Contributors' materials remain the property of the copyright owners and are used by permission.

Home     Books     Articles     Horse Profiles    Hoofprints    Contact    Links