Suddenbreakingnews (Mineshaft), impressive winner of the GIII Southwest S. and runner-up to future GI Belmont S. hero Creator (Tapit) in the GI Arkansas Derby, breezed four furlongs in :47.80 (1/140) beneath regular rider Luis Quinonez Thursday morning and could make his seasonal debut in the $125,000 Fifth Season S. at Oaklawn Park Jan. 13.
“I wanted him to get a sharp work, and probably did,” said trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel said. “Forty-seven and four, for him, is a pretty sharp work.”
The conditioner indicated that a decision on a start in the Fifth Season would come over the next few days. Von Hemel said he wanted to have a look at the nominations before committing to the race.
A closing fifth behind Nyquist (Uncle Mo) in the GI Kentucky Derby and ninth to Creator in the Belmont, Suddenbreakingnews was most recently fifth in the GII West Virginia Derby in early August. Listed as a ridgling to that point in his career, Suddenbreakingnews has since been gelded.
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