Suddenbreakingnews rallies from last to first in Southwest

Feb 16, 2016 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

Suddenbreakingnews, widely considered the lesser half of a Donnie Von Hemel-trained coupled entry in the Monday's $500,000 Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn Park, proved superior to stablemate Synchrony and 12 other rivals by taking the 1 1/16-mile event in last-to-first fashion.

The trailer by as much as 15 lengths, Suddenbreakingnews still had 11 rivals to catch with just over a quarter-mile remaining, but turned on the afterburners with a seven-wide rally in the stretch. Ridden by Luis Quinonez, the gelded son of Mineshaft seized control inside the final sixteenth and won going away by 2 3/4 lengths in a time of 1:45.14 over a good track.

Owned by Samuel Henderson, Suddenbreakingnews paid $10.20. Second choice Whitmore secured second, a half-length in front of American Dubai. Collected, the 5-2 favorite, was two lengths farther back in fourth.

For the victory, Suddenbreakingnews earned 10 qualifying points toward Kentucky Derby (G1) eligibility as part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby Series. The next three finishers earned points of 4, 2, and 1, respectively.

The Southwest was the season debut for Suddenbreakingnews, who won twice and placed second three times in five starts at two, all at Remington Park. Disqualified from victory in his debut, he broke his maiden next out and then finished second in allowance company before winning the $101,000 Clever Trevor. He concluded his campaign with a nose second in the $250,000 Springboard Mile to Discreetness, who ran seventh in the Southwest.

Suddenbreakingnews has now earned $443,032 and will likely be pointed to the $900,000 Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn on March 19.

(Coady Photography)