Giant Surprise

After completing our marathon tour of covering options in the Bluegrass, today we take a tour of the main regional hubs. Clearly, it would be impractical to go into anything like the same depth and, besides, local breeders know their own markets best. But while we will only visit some of the principal centers, and pick out only one or two names in each, bloodstock investors anywhere can acknowledge the professionalism that unites horsemen, coast to coast, and think about the possibilities of diversification or experiment--above all in those programs...

On July 30, 2011, 2-year-old Repole Stable colorbearer Giant Surprise graduated in his Saratoga debut by 4 1/2 lengths earning a 90 Beyer Speed Figure under the care of trainer Todd Pletcher and ridden by Johnny Velazquez. The bay sustained a non-displaced, condylar fracture to his left foreleg during the race and was retired to stud. Fast forward exactly four years and Giant Surprise has hit another milestone--his first starter and his first winner in the Velazquez ridden, Pletcher trained Repole runner Sudden Surprise. Mike Repole said the calendar coincidence...