He's consistent, he's got the right pedigree, and he's now a Grade 3 winner with 10 points toward a Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) starting berth. "He" is Suddenbreakingnews, and his strong last-to-first run in Sunday's Southwest Stakes (USA-G3)---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-G1) 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-G1) and Belmont winner Afleet Alex. Although Uchitel failed to win in three starts, she is a half sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Composure and 2008 West Virginia Derby Stakes (USA-G3) winner Ready Set, both by Touch Gold. Composure, in turn, is the dam of this year's Royal Delta Stakes (USA-G2) 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-G1). She herself won the 1993 Yerba Buena Handicap (USA-G3) 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.
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-G1) 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-G1) and Belmont winner Afleet Alex. Although Uchitel failed to win in three starts, she is a half sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Composure and 2008 West Virginia Derby Stakes (USA-G3) winner Ready Set, both by Touch Gold. Composure, in turn, is the dam of this year's Royal Delta Stakes (USA-G2) 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-G1). She herself won the 1993 Yerba Buena Handicap (USA-G3) 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.
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