In Sharper Focus

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...

The journey back to upstate New York tuned out to be a particularly sweet one for owner-breeder Brant Laue, who got his first debut winner Sunday with homebred Sage Hall (Cape Blanco {Ire}). The 11-1 shot, who is trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, graduated by four lengths Sunday afternoon. "Sometimes lightning just strikes," Laue said of the filly. "She has been training very well and we were looking for a good effort. I don't know that we were necessarily looking for that good of an effort, but we...