Issue link: http://nytbreeders.epubxp.com/i/609330
42 New York Breeder | nytbreeders.org | December 2015 Notebook/Key Cents lies), the colt dispatched his rivals in the Notebook on sheer talent alone, posting a 1 3 ⁄ 4 -length win in 1:11.27. Yet the scene in the winner's circle afterwards was less of a celebration and more of a revelation on why the trio of trainer Todd Pletcher, Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, and Repole have become such a force in racing. As soon as Velazquez dismounted, Repole had some essential concerns in mind. He asked Velazquez if the horse wanted to go longer. That seemed to be among the rider's own thoughts as well, indicating that his mount didn't want to take over the lead early on and was con - tent to sit outside the competition. Then the pair discussed their opinions with Pletcher, and the idea of running Sud - den Surprise back at a mile and possibly adding blinkers was brought up. "He's not going to be a six-furlong horse," said Repole. "I don't know if he's going to be a mile-and-a-sixteenth horse. But I think his last race (the Sleepy Hol - low) was (misleading). He didn't break very well. He was three lengths behind at the start and three lengths (3 1 ⁄ 2 ) behind at the fnish. I think he wants to be in the game (more). Sudden Surprise, out of the More Than Ready mare Ready and Good, also has state-bred stakes victories in the Ber - tram F. Bongard Stakes and Funny Cide Stakes, with earnings of $326,300. "This year's crop of New York-breds is the strongest I've seen in a while," said Pletcher. "You know these races are go - ing to be competitive, but I was pleased with the effort." Dutchess Views Farm's Dr. Shane earned the runner-up spot in the Note - book, fnishing a neck ahead of Happy Face Racing Stable's Love That Jazz. Notebook, a son of Well Decorated, was a New York-bred champion for the late Eugene Klein. Bred by Eaton and Thorne, Notebook captured eight of 21 starts ($584,630) for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. He sired 49 stakes winners in - cluding grade I winners Delaware Town- ship, Three Ring, Booklet, and Spoken Fur. Frosty First As an ex-jockey, trainer Rudy Ro- driguez is more than capable of tak- ing a hands-on approach to the Thor- oughbreds under his tutelage. He did exactly that with Gabrielle Farm's homebred Frosty Margarita, even be - fore the 2-year-old's time in his barn began. "I got a call from the owners, one of the best owners in my barn, about the flly. So I went up to their farm to gallop her. Right away I knew she was going to be a good one." The daughter of Frost Giant out of the Not For Love mare Mango Mar - garita, entered the $100,000 Key Cents Stakes Nov. 22 while coming off a pace-making second-place fnish (los - ing by three-quarters of a length to Su- per Surprise) in the Maid of the Mist. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. sent the ju - venile flly directly to the lead in the six-furlong Key Cents after breaking from the rail and was never seriously threatened by her six rivals. Frosty Margarita scored a three- length gate-to-wire victory in 1:11.85. "She got a nice comfortable lead and then she switched (her) leads and took it home," said Rodriguez. "(Cut - ting back to six furlongs) is the best thing we did. Hopefully, next year we can stretch out to a mile." The consistent Frosty Margarita has fnished frst or second in all fve out - ings, (2-3-0) and has earned $195,800. Treadway Racing Stable's Melodic (by Tale of the Cat), winner of the Jo - seph A. Gimma Stakes, was a clear second in the Key Cents, while Repole Stable's Surprise Cameo (by Giant Surprise) fnished third. Key Cents, a daughter of Corridor Key, was a New York-bred divisional champion—named the top older fe - male of 1998. She was bred by Charles Engel and owned in partnership by In - grid Ferriola and Martin Saks. On the racetrack, Key Cents was victorious in 13 of 41 starts ($343,957), including a win in the 1998 Iroquois Handicap at seven furlongs for trainer Peter Fer - riola and jockey John Velazquez. As a broodmare, she produced stakes win - ner Rebridled Dreams (by Unbridled's Song), who is the dam of Carpe Diem (by Giant's Causeway), winner of the 2015 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) and Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II). Frosty Margarita, by Frost Giant, wins the Key Cents under Irad Ortiz Jr. adam coglianese/nyra