Three-Year-Old Sprinters Vie in Jimmy Winkfield
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A talented group of seven 3-year-olds will look to step forward in the sprinting division as they set to compete in the 32nd running of the Jimmy Winkfield at six furlongs on Sunday at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Entering from the barn of Todd Pletcher are a pair of formidable New York-breds in Sudden Surprise for Repole Stable and Awesome Gent for Burning Sands Stable. From the first crop of sire Giant Surprise, Sudden Surprise enters the Winkfield as the most accomplished runner in the field. With five victories from seven lifetime starts and over $400,000 in earnings, Sudden Surprise has appeared in six consecutive overnight stakes since winning his debut at Saratoga Race Course in July. Most recently on February 6, he led a field of five most of the way before being caught in the stretch to finish second in the Gander at Aqueduct.
Looking to rebound off that effort, Sudden Surprise will depart from post 2 with Jose Oritiz in the irons with odds of 5-1 on the morning line.
Awesome Gent, a son of Awesome Again will look to extend his win streak to three facing stakes-level competition for the first time in the Winkfield. With a perfect 2-for-2 record over the Aqueduct inner track from 3 career starts, the colt was impressive last out winning by 6 ¼ lengths on January 5 in an optional-claiming race at the Big A while picking up an 82 Beyer Speed Figure.
At 9-2 on the morning line, Awesome Gent will leave from post 3 with Manuel Franco aboard.
Trainer John Terranova will saddle King Kranz for Zayat Stables. Although he has just one win from starts, that victory came in the Lost in the Fog on New Year's Day at Aqueduct. Following that victory he made the jump to graded stakes-level competition in the Grade 3 Withers where he raced five-wide most of the way to finish sixth.
Shortening back to the Lost in the Fog's six-furlong distance, King Kranz has been tabbed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite. The Munnings colt will depart from post 5 with Cornelio Velasquez in the irons.
Aqueduct winter meet leading trainer Rudy Rodriguez will send a pair of runners for owner Michael Dubb in Zen Papa and Condo King. Coming off a fourth-place finish on January 1 in the Lost in the Fog, Zen Papa will look to move forward after collecting back-to-back victories in his first two career starts. A son of Zensational, the gray colt will depart from post 6 with Junior Alvarado aboard.
Condo King, the 7-2 morning-line second-choice will depart from the outermost post 8 with Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the rions. By Tiz Wonderful, Condo King has one win in four starts when he impressively broke his maiden two starts back on December 5at Aqueduct. He then entered the Grade 3 Jerome where he gave way at the turn to finish a disappointing sixth.
Rounding out the field are Moon Over a Beauty for trainer Rick Violette, Jr. and My Meadowview Farm and shipping up from Fairgrounds with a two wins in as many starts, Quijote for trainer Tom Amoss and Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc.
Source: NYRA Communications
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