Doc Sullivan overwhelms Thunder Rumble in the New York Stallion Stakes Series at Aqueduct Racetrack

Keith McCalmont

Cutting back in trip suited Tristar Farm’s Doc Sullivan perfectly, as the runner powered clear by five and one-half lengths. The Thunder Rumble division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series, worth one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars and contested at seven furlongs for eligible New York-sired 3-year-olds and older, unfolded on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack, where shorter distances can aid a horse with a strong cruising speed, for example.

After a neck setback here on October 25 in the nine-furlong Empire Classic against fellow New York-breds, where returning rival Bank Frenzy had his measure, the four-year-old dark bay by Solomini came right back. He was sent out by trainer John Ortiz and given a polished ride by Hall of Fame jockey Joel Rosario, a pairing that has clicked in similar stakes sprints.

This latest victory became his third stakes tally, achieved after earlier state-bred wins at seven furlongs at Saratoga Race Course: last year’s Mike Lee and July’s John Morrissey. Those prior successes at the same trip hinted at this outcome, much like a sprinter repeating a preferred setup.

“He gives you everything, and seven-eighths fits him to a tee,” Rosario said, rephrasing his confidence as a rider who values rhythm. “Because he’d already scored at that distance, there was no guesswork. He left the gate quickly, ran boldly, and in my view he was simply the class of the field,” he added, noting how a sharp break can simplify tactics.

Over a sloppy, sealed main track, the first quarter went in 22.92 as Dr. Kraft, urged along by Flavien Prat, dictated the pace while Doc Sullivan pressed from the outside flank. Tracking in third, Bank Frenzy under Manny Franco bided his time down the backstretch; into the turn the pressure increased and the half-mile was posted in 45.79, a split that often rewards a stalker.

Approaching the stretch, Doc Sullivan struck the front but drifted out briefly, which let a tenacious Dr. Kraft counter, while Bank Frenzy’s bid failed to bridge the gap. Once Rosario straightened his mount, the leader kicked on powerfully inside the final sixteenth to stop the clock in 1:22.31; Dr. Kraft, fifth in the Empire Classic last out, saved second, one and one-half lengths in front of Bank Frenzy, with Jackson Heights and General Banker completing the order of finish in that sequence.

“He can idle when he makes the lead, so I kept him occupied, but I felt he towered over them today,” said Rosario, who has piloted Doc Sullivan in his five most recent starts. Those included narrow fourth-place finishes at seven furlongs in the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga in August and the Grade 3 Vosburgh presented by Army Mule here in September, efforts that preceded his Empire Classic attempt and showed graded-caliber form.

Assistant trainer Daniel Ortiz, who is the winning conditioner John Ortiz’s brother, voiced his satisfaction with the performance. He emphasized how the stable’s preparation translated, a reminder that a consistent routine—like schooling in the paddock—often pays dividends.

“We came in very confident off that big run, and hats off to Bank Frenzy—it’s energizing to have a true rival,” Ortiz said. “Getting the job done the way he did was gratifying; he showed belief in himself and won with something in hand. It’s a lift for the whole team,” he added, crediting the barn’s collective effort.

Bred in New York by Seamus Coughlan, Doc Sullivan was purchased for fifty-nine thousand dollars at the 2023 OBS June 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale. The winner’s share of sixty-eight thousand seven hundred fifty dollars improved his ledger to 19-6-6-2, and as the post-time favorite he paid $3.40 on a $2 win ticket—an example of short odds reflecting strong form in pari-mutuel markets.

Race replay video

Sunday at the Big A brings a nine-race program highlighted by the $150,000 Forever Together in Race 4 and the Grade 3, $150,000 Pebbles in Race 8. First post is scheduled for 12:10 p.m. Eastern, a mid-day start that suits fans planning multiple wagers.

America’s Day at the Races will air coverage and analysis of the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet across the FOX Sports networks. For broadcast times and channel information, see the Aqueduct TV schedule page.

NYRA Bets serves as the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack and is promoted as the optimal way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available nationwide, the NYRA Bets app can be downloaded today on iOS and Android via the usual app stores for handicappers on the go.