Doc Sullivan prevails in $125K Alex M. Robb

Tristar Farm’s Doc Sullivan doubled up on stakes scores with a determined win over Quick to Accuse in Friday’s $125,000 Alex M. Robb, a one-turn mile for New York-bred 3-year-olds and up, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by John Ortiz, the 4-year-old son of Solomini won the rubber match with multiple stakes-winner Bank Frenzy, who finished third after tracking in last-of-5 early. Doc Sullivan has now won 3-of-5 matchups between him and Bank Frenzy, including last out in the seven-furlong NYSSS Thunder Rumble on November 22 where his familiar foe also finished third.

With Ricardo Santana, Jr. taking the reins from regular Hall of Fame pilot Joel Rosario, Doc Sullivan stalked from post 2 behind the pace set by Quick to Accuse, who broke sharply and marked the opening quarter-mile in 23.79 seconds over the fast main track with Bank Frenzy trailing in last after emerging from the inside post.

“The instructions are usually the same, let him break and rush him out a little bit because we don’t want him to hang too far back,” Ortiz said. “Once he gets his feet underneath him, he’s push button. You can tell Ricardo stood all the way up and just waited and waited. Had me a little too nervous waiting around too much, but he’s worked this horse several times in the morning for Joel, so he knows this horse really well.”

Doc Sullivan maintained inside position down the backstretch with Share the Ludt to his outside through the half-mile in 47.17 as Quick to Accuse extended his lead to 1 1/2 lengths before Share the Ludt quickly backpedaled and Doc Sullivan was the lone threat in the turn. Santana, Jr. only needed to nudge his charge along to loom large at the top of the lane as Bank Frenzy followed his run and was already fully extended.

A game Quick to Accuse dug in under Julio Hernandez in the stretch as Doc Sullivan drew nearer and Bank Frenzy gave chase through three quarters in 1:11.63, but Doc Sullivan inched ahead in the final sixteenth to put away the pacesetter and score by one length in a final time of 1:37.23.

Bank Frenzy finished another 5 1/4 lengths back to round out the trifecta with Locke and Key and Share the Ludt completing the order of finish. The Wine Steward and General Banker, who is entered in an optional claimer tomorrow at the Big A, were scratched.

Ortiz, who brought his Aqueduct fall meet record to an impressive 7-for-13, said his ties to the local racing community have made his recent success even more gratifying.

“This is pretty much where I grew up. I grew up in Elmont, New York, and went to school there,” Ortiz said. “I used to sneak out of my last period class, jump the fence at Belmont and watch a couple races. My family raised me here on the New York circuit thanks to my dad and instilled the love of the horse here in New York, so it’s very meaningful for me to be here.”

Santana, Jr. said Doc Sullivan was professional in victory.

“This horse is so classy. I’ve breezed him so many times and every time we breeze him behind [horses] he knows when it’s time to go,” Santana, Jr. said. “I sat behind them and at the three-eighths - I think it was the six [Share the Ludt] there - and as soon as I got out, he was taking me right there to the leader. He was much the best today.”

Bred in New York by Seamus Coughlan, Doc Sullivan finished a game fourth in two graded tilts earlier this year ahead of a second to Bank Frenzy in the nine-furlong Empire Classic on October 25. He notched an additional pair of state-bred stakes wins at Saratoga Race Course in last year’s Mike Lee and the John Morrissey on July 31, where he made his first start for Ortiz after transferring from the Michael Miceli barn.

Ortiz, who is assisted in New York by his brother Daniel, said Doc Sullivan has made steady improvements both physically and mentally since entering his care.

“He really has [matured]. He came in with the warning that he could be a bully in the stall, in the paddock,” Ortiz recalled. “I feel like my barn has always thrived with horses that need a little bit of extra attention. He's been with my brother since Saratoga, since Keeneland actually, and they've gotten along really well. I just love seeing a little TLC take a horse this far. Couldn't be happier with him, he's just physically and mentally maturing, and putting it all together now that he's older.”

Doc Sullivan banked $68,750 in victory while improving his lifetime record to 20-7-6-2 and returning $3.46 on a $2 win ticket as the 3-5 mutuel favorite.

Hernandez, aboard the Panagiotis Synnefias-trained Quick to Accuse, said he was proud of his horse’s effort.

“I got a lot of confidence from the trainer,” Hernandez said. “He told me last week that the horse was doing amazing. He left everything in my hands. My horse broke and nobody went with me, so I just put my hands down – he likes to run like this. He almost got the job done, but that’s a nice horse that beat me. He’ll be back.”

Live racing resumes Saturday at the Big A with an 11-race card, which features the Listed $150,000 Queens County in Race 8. First post is 11:20 a.m. Eastern.

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