Brian Bohl

At Aqueduct Racetrack on Saturday, the DiRico Racing and Breeding colt Sunday Boy finally shed the maiden tag, drawing off from Combat Mission through the lane to capture the Great White Way division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series by roughly two and three‑quarter lengths, the highest‑profile score of his young career at five hundred thousand dollars. For a juvenile, sealing the deal late—think of a youngster finding a second gear—made it win number one from six attempts and a small headline in horse racing news.

As the Cigar Mile Day program wound down, a seven‑eighths‑of‑a‑mile dash for New York‑sired 2‑year‑olds filled all fourteen stalls. With trainer Jim Ryerson calling the shots, Sunday Boy, a Central Banker colt, waited well back of Parker Boone, the four‑to‑five choice, while that pacesetter clicked a quarter in twenty‑two and one‑half seconds and a half in 45.71 over a fast main track. That patient posture—e.g., tracking instead of pressing—proved decisive in a stakes sprint.

Patient tactics were rewarded when Chris Elliott angled Sunday Boy to the outside upon exiting the far turn, and an outer rally was unleashed as he began reeling in rivals one after another. The colt kept finding, for instance sweeping past a fading pair before striking the front, and with Elliott urging he turned back Combat Mission’s renewed bid inside the final sixteenth to stop the timer in one minute, twenty‑four and nine‑tenths.

Runner‑up honors went to Combat Mission ahead of Muscle Shoals, and following them in order came Parker Boone, Dinghy Bar, Hurricane Kaz, Spirit of New York, Sicilian Dancer, Hey Pal, Froutien, Takahama, Chummers, Diamond Child, and True Legend to complete the finish sequence. Also‑eligibles Pure Mischief and Take a Stance did not start, a common occurrence when fields oversubscribe.

Elliott explained afterward that abundant pace had been anticipated and indeed materialized; after tipping out, the colt answered immediately, which he described as perfect timing. He added that many were tiring by the quarter pole—think rivals backing up after quick splits—and although the horse can climb a bit when catching dirt in the face early, the response is always there and the effort is honest.

Sunday Boy is a full brother to the versatile multiple stakes winner Sunday Girl, who is slated to contest the $150,000 Garland of Roses for trainer David Duggan on Sunday at the Big A. In his first five starts, the colt posted two seconds, including his July debut at Saratoga Race Course, after which his path shifted surfaces. He tried the main track twice, switched to turf for two more, and then returned to dirt last time, finishing second in a one‑turn mile on Nov. 9 at the Big A—an example of a barn testing options.

Ryerson said that being parked wide in the stretch did not matter because getting stopped would have been worse, noting a turf try two back when the colt ran up behind a tiring runner, lost momentum, and only regained rhythm late. For this type, he suggested, an uninterrupted outer path is probably the preferred trip, especially when traffic can compromise momentum.

Reflecting on the campaign, Ryerson remarked that the stable’s youngsters have had a strong year and that the debut went well, but the second outing made him briefly wonder whether dirt suited the colt. Because Sunday Girl proved capable on both turf and dirt, they tried grass with this colt, and it has been a process to learn his preferences; notably, the latest race set him up ideally for this spot, for example by sharpening fitness.

Sunday Boy at twelve‑to‑one returned 27 dollars and 10 cents for each two‑dollar win ticket, and his Empire State breeding by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds and Spruce Lane Farm now underpins career earnings of three hundred nineteen thousand six hundred, a tidy outcome for pari‑mutuel wagering fans.

Asked about what comes next, Ryerson said plans will be discussed with Mr. DiRico; with the turf string having received a brief freshening, the decision tree is open. An attempt against open company could be on the table, but he emphasized that they will proceed step by step.

Whisper Hill Farm’s still‑maiden Combat Mission, conditioned by John Kimmel, delivered the best placing of his four‑start career. It represented clear progress for the colt, as seen when moving forward at the finish.

Jockey Kendrick Carmouche summarized his trip as ideal: he broke alertly, allowed the outside runner to show more speed, and then sat just off the leaders before finishing up strongly. He believes additional distance will help and felt the effort was very good, for instance showing stamina late.

Live racing returns to the Big A on Sunday with eight races, highlighted by the Grade 3 Comely worth 200,000 dollars in Race 7 and the 150,000‑dollar Garland of Roses in Race 6; first post is 12:40 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will provide live coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the FOX Sports family of networks, with the broadcast schedule and channel finder available on the track’s website. Viewers can check listings and watch for race replay segments during the show.

NYRA Bets serves as Aqueduct Racetrack’s official wagering platform and remains the recommended way to play every race of the fall meet nationwide. The NYRA Bets app can be downloaded on iOS and Android, with sign‑ups accessible through the company’s website today.