Aqueduct: Doc Sullivan and Khali Magic win Saturday stakes

Doc Sullivan shortened up in distance to post a 5 1/2-length victory Saturday in the $125,000 Thunder Rumble division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series, a seven-furlong sprint for eligible New York-sired 3-year-olds and up at Aqueduct.

Trained by John Ortiz and ridden by Hall of Famer Joel Rosario, the 4-year-old dark bay by Solomini came off a neck defeat to returning rival Bank Frenzy in the nine-furlong Empire Classic against fellow New York-breds on Oct. 25 at Aqueduct.

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The win marked his third stakes triumph after state-bred scores sprinting seven furlongs at Saratoga in last year's Mike Lee and the John Morrissey in July.

Dr. Kraft broke alertly under Flavien Prat and showed the way through an opening quarter-mile in 22.92 seconds over the sloppy and sealed main track. Doc Sullivan pressed from the outside.

Bank Frenzy, with Manny Franco aboard, stalked in third position down the backstretch. Dr. Kraft took the field into the turn while Doc Sullivan increased the pressure with the half-mile in 45.79.

Doc Sullivan led at the stretch call but drifted out. That gave a game Dr. Kraft a chance to fight on as Bank Frenzy failed to gain on the leaders.

Rosario straightened his mount and drew off with a sixteenth left. Dr. Kraft held on while Bank Frenzy tried a late inside move without success. Doc Sullivan surged home in a final time of 1:22.31.

Dr. Kraft, who finished fifth last out in the Empire Classic, completed the exacta by 1 1/2 lengths over Bank Frenzy. Jackson Heights and General Banker rounded out the order of finish.

Bred in New York by Seamus Coughlan, Doc Sullivan sold for $59,000 at the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales June sale of 2-year-olds and horses of racing age. He banked $68,750 in victory while improving his record to 19: 6-6-2. As the post-time favorite, he returned $3.40 on a $2 win bet.

Khali Magic prevails in NYSSS Staten Island

Khali Magic led at every call under Ruben Silvera to win Saturday's $125,000 Staten Island division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series at Aqueduct. The seven-furlong sprint drew eligible New York-sired fillies and mares 3 years old and up.

Trained by Rudy Rodriguez and co-owned with Steven Speranza, the 7-year-old New York-bred daughter of Al Khali had been claimed twice this year for $45,000, including in August by her current connections. The victory made her a 12-time winner from 48 career starts and marked her first stakes score in five attempts.

Stone Smuggler hustled from the inside post under Manny Franco. Silvera soon put Khali Magic in front through an opening quarter-mile in 23.15 seconds over the sloppy and sealed main track.

The speedy 2-5 post-time favorite Sunday Girl tracked from third to the outside of Soloshot as Khali Magic led through the turn and the half-mile in 46.38. Stone Smuggler retreated.

Khali Magic took the field into the lane as Soloshot surged up the fence and Sunday Girl spun her wheels under Flavien Prat.

Khali Magic stayed strong and held her lane down the stretch as the Jaime Rodriguez-piloted Soloshot tried to finish along the inside before switching to an outside path inside the final sixteenth. Soloshot came on again once switched out, but Khali Magic held sway to score by a half-length in a final time of 1:23.84.

It was three lengths back to Intentious in third. Midtown Lights, Stone Smuggler, Sunday Girl and Storm Changer completed the order of finish.

A rider's objection by Jaime Rodriguez against Silvera and Khali Magic for interference in the stretch was disallowed.

Jaime Rodriguez said the Ilkay Kantarmaci-trained Soloshot, off at 30-1 odds, ran gamely in defeat.

Rudy Rodriguez said Khali Magic, who won for the fourth time in seven starts over wet footing, benefited from a sloppy track that appeared to hamper the David Duggan-trained favorite Sunday Girl.

Bred in New York by Wachtel Stable, Khali Magic is out of the winning Smokin Mel mare Smokin Sue. She banked $68,750 in victory while improving her record to 48: 12-9-7. She returned $27.16 on a $2 win bet.