A heavy favorite and a 12-1 outsider commanded the state-bred spotlight Nov. 22 at Aqueduct Racetrack in a pair of 7-furlong races in the New York Stallion Stakes Series. Doc Sullivan, backed to 7-10 odds in the opener, romped by 5 1/2 lengths in the $121,250 Thunder Rumble division of the NYSSS, before Khali Magic surprised in the Staten Island division.
The Thunder Rumble featured older males, while the Staten Island was for fillies and mares.
The John Ortiz-trained Doc Sullivan, a 4-year-old dark bay or brown colt by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds stallion Solomini , pressed pacesetting Dr. Kraft for the first half of the race before asserting his superiority and drawing away from that rival by 5 1/2 lengths under Joel Rosario. Bank Frenzy ran third, 1 1/2 lengths behind runner-up Dr. Kraft.
Tristar Farm's Doc Sullivan zipped 7 furlongs on a sloppy track in 1:22.31. Early fractions set by Dr. Kraft were :22.92 and :45.79.
The winner returned $3.40 for a $2 wager in picking up his third career stakes victory. He is 6-6-2 in 19 starts with earnings of $657,840.
"He always tries hard, this horse, and I thought seven-eighths was perfect for him," Rosario said. "He won going that distance before, so that was good. He ran great. He always breaks sharp, and he was the best horse in the race."
Bred by Seamus Coughlan out of the Giant's Causeway mare Queen Frostine, Doc Sullivan was a $59,000 purchase from the Omar Ramirez Bloodstock consignment to the 2023 Ocala Breeders' Sales June 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale. Joseph Brocklebank bought him as agent for Glen Lostritto of Tristar Farm.
Doc Sullivan is named after Lostritto's former wrestling coach, English teacher, mentor, and friend.
Video: New York Stallion Series S. (BT)
Successful Claim Khali Magic Takes Staten Island
After 48 starts, Khali Magic is a stakes winner. The front-running mare upset the $125,000 Staten Island, winning by a half-length over 30-1 outsider Soloshot, timed in 1:23.84 under Ruben Silvera after dictating the pace through splits of :23.15 and :46.38.
A rider's objection by Jaime Rodriguez, who rode Soloshot, alleging interference against Silvera and Khali Magic for interference in the stretch run, was dismissed by track stewards.
Intentious ran third.
Trainer Rudy Rodriguez co-owns Khali Magic, a 7-year-old daughter of the late Al Khali, with Steven Speranza. They claimed the Wachtel Stable-bred mare for $45,000 this summer at Saratoga Race Course.
"Since we claimed her, she's been a very straightforward filly," Rodriguez said. "She's run three times for us now, so maybe third time was the charm."
Rodriguez added that Khali Magic, who won for the fourth time in seven tries over a wet track, benefited from the sloppy conditions. Meanwhile, 2-5 favorite Sunday Girl struggled, finishing sixth.
Khali Magic, out of the winning Smokin Mel mare Smokin Sue, banked $68,750 in victory to advance her record to 12-9-7. Her career earnings stand at $776,768.
