Suddenbreakingnews Will Be Pointed to Rebel Stakes
Suddenbreakingnews will be pointed for the $900,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) March 19 at Oaklawn, trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel said Tuesday morning.
Suddenbreakingnews moved to the top of the local 3-year-old division in Monday’s $500,000 Southwest Stakes (G3), overcoming post 13 in a 2 ¾-length last-to-first victory over Whitmore under regular rider Luis Quinonez.
A gelded son of 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft, Suddenbreakingnews was making his first start since finishing a troubled second, beaten a nose, in the $250,000 Springboard Mile Dec. 13 at Remington Park.
Von Hemel praised Quinonez, his longtime go-to rider, for steering Suddenbreakingnews clear of traffic in the 1 1/16-mile Southwest, which offered 17 points, including 10 to the winner, toward starting eligibility in the Kentucky Derby. The trainer said Quinonez was able to drop over and save ground around the first turn before launching an eye-catching seven-wide rally turning for home.
“There were just too many to wade up through at that point,” Von Hemel said. “And there was legitimate pace in the race, so that was to our favor. He was the best horse the last quarter-mile.”
Suddenbreakingnews collared Whitmore and American Dubai on the outside in the final 100 yards and was drawing away at the finish.
Ron Moquett of Hot Springs, co-owner/trainer of Whitmore, said Tuesday morning that he was leaning toward running in the 1 1/16-mile Rebel.
“Got to do the three-owner shuffle,” Moquett said, referring to co-owners Harry Rosenblum and Robert LaPenta. “I want to run here, and I own a piece.”
In the Southwest, Whitmore had to steady under the wire the first time, then again just past the half-mile pole. Whitmore, 11th after a half-mile, recovered, glided past horses on the outside on the turn and looked like a winner approaching the sixteenth pole under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.
“You’ve got be proud of how he ran,” Moquett said. “I don’t believe distance will be anything but good for him.”
Trainer Rodney Richards said Tuesday morning that third-place finisher American Dubai would be pointed for the Rebel. In his stakes debut, and third lifetime start, American Dubai was beaten 3 ¼ lengths after holding a clear led in midstretch.
“It was like a victory,” Richards said with a laugh. “Everybody has been congratulating me.”
American Dubai was ridden for the first time Monday by Walter De La Cruz, but Richards said he had received “about five” calls from agents concerning the Rebel.
Discreetness, who finished seventh in the Southwest, will return in the Rebel, trainer Jinks Fires of Hot Springs said Tuesday morning. The colt, after breaking from post 14, was beaten 10 ½ lengths after being caught eight-wide on the first turn and four-wide turning for home.
“Bad trip,” Fires said. “He was outside all the way. Ran a sixteenth a mile farther than anybody.”
Discreetness was coming off a victory in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 18 at Oaklawn.
Third-place Smarty Jones finisher Synchrony finished a non-threatening sixth in the Southwest as part of a Von Hemel-trained entry with Suddenbreakingnews.
“Really, in both his races here, he’s just never laid his body down and run the way we’ve seen him do it last fall,” Von Hemel said. “It may be that he needs a change of venue, but we’ll be figuring that out in the next few weeks.”
Source: Oaklawn Park