Sunday Break Survives Scrutiny and Wins Prep Race for Wood

Even though Sunday Break gave his supporters, his jockey and his trainer some anxious moments Wednesday at Aqueduct, the 3-year-old son of Forty Niner got the job done.

Making his New York debut after winning two in a row at Santa Anita, the prohibitive 1-5 favorite prepped for the $750,000 Wood Memorial with a one-length victory over four opponents in a $50,000 allowance race.

Before the victory was official, Sunday Break had to withstand a stewards’ inquiry and a claim of foul by jockey Richard Migliore, who was aboard runner-up Tomahawk Lane.

After being content to track the slow pace set by Tomahawk Lane, Sunday Break took over early in the stretch under jockey Gary Stevens, but then drifted in twice. Stevens was able to keep him from making contact with his opponents and he asserted his superiority in the final yards.

After a few minutes, the stewards let the result stand.

Sunday Break completed the 11/8 miles in 1:512/5.

“This race was a good experience,” winning trainer Neil Drysdale said. “He got to playing around in the stretch. Gary said he was just too relaxed on the front end. I’m still thinking the Wood [on April 13] for him.”

Stopping in New York on his way home after a successful Saturday in Dubai, Stevens remains optimistic about Sunday Break, who was bred in Japan and is owned by Koji Maeda.

“We got by [Tomahawk Lane] and my horse started looking around at the grandstand,” he said. “He ducked in and I nearly fell off. This is a good horse. He galloped out an eighth of a mile after the finish impressively.

“I normally would want to put blinkers on a horse like this, but this horse is too keen.”

Trainer Bobby Frankel, who is sending Medaglia d’Oro east for the Wood, may have a starter in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 6 after all.

Frankel said Wednesday that Royal Gem, who is unbeaten in two races on the turf, could make his main track debut in the Derby. “We just want to see if he can run on dirt,” Frankel said.

Besides Royal Gem, others being considered for the local Derby are likely favorite Came Home, Danthebluegrassman, Lusty Latin, Easy Grades, Fonz’s, Jack’s Silver, U S S Tinosa, Tracemark and Mayakovsky.