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My Boy Tate a horse for course in NYSS Thunder Rumble

by Keith McCalmont

My Boy Tate, with four wins from five attempts on the Big A main track, will look for a return to form in Sunday's $125,000 Thunder Rumble at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained and part-owned by Michelle Nevin with Little Red Feather Racing, My Boy Tate comes into the seven-furlong New York Stallion Series main-track sprint from a lackluster eighth last out in the Hudson Handicap on October 20 at Belmont Park.

The 4-year-old Boys At Toscanova gelding put together an impressive streak of five wins starting last season from his graduation at Saratoga on August 13, 2017, followed by four straight scores at Aqueduct, including wins on January 13 in the Say Florida Sandy and on February 19 in the Hollie Hughes.

After finishing off-the-board in his two most recent efforts at Belmont, Nevin said she is hopeful that My Boy Tate will relish a return to the Ozone Park oval.

"I'm hoping that maybe Belmont just isn't his favorite track and he's shown a real affinity for Aqueduct, so hopefully he gets back here and right back on his game," said Nevin. "He just improved as he went along [last winter]. Once he got good, he just stayed that way for a while, so hopefully he can do that again this year."

My Boy Tate has breezed twice at Aqueduct since the Hudson, including a sharp four-furlong effort in 48.21 seconds on November 2.

"He's seemed like his normal self, done everything right, so I have no complaints," said Nevin.

Dylan Davis, aboard for both stakes wins last winter at Aqueduct, has the call from post three. Although blessed with good gate speed, Nevin said My Boy Tate doesn't need the lead to win the Thunder Rumble.

"I don't think so," said Nevin. "He's done a little bit of everything. I'm hoping with him back on his home turf it will bring his form back around."

A talented field of eight features the top four finishers from last year's Thunder Rumble, including defending champion Gold for the King, multiple stakes winner Sudden Surprise, Fleet Irish and Loki's Vengeance.

Gold for the King, trained by Charlton Baker for Francis Paolangeli, has won six of 17 career starts, including four stakes scores. The 4-year-old Posse gelding has posted a record of one win and two seconds in five starts this season which includes completing the exacta behind My Boy Tate in the Say Florida Sandy.

After finishing second last out, off a three-month layoff, in the Hudson Handicap won by Runaway Lute, Gold for the King arrives at the Thunder Rumble in fine fettle with a bullet breeze of 1:01.55 for five furlongs on the Belmont training track. Joel Rosario retains the mount from post seven.

Sudden Surprise, a 5-year-old son of Giant Surprise, is the richest horse in the field with career earnings of $750,593. The hard-knocking bay gelding continues to pick up checks with great frequency, sporting a record of 2-1-1 from seven starts this season, which attracted a $40,000 claim last out by trainer John Toscano for owner Bran Jam Stable.

A five-time stakes winner from 27 career starts, Sudden Surprise caught Toscano's attention with a front-running romp on September 21 at Belmont when in for a $25,000 tag that garnered an 87 Beyer Speed Figure. Claimed out of that winning effort by David Donk, Toscano was keen to add the win-friendly veteran to his stable with an eye to turning the tables on his Thunder Rumble rival.

"His race prior was an unbelievably good race and I won a two-way shake for him," said Toscano. "He was second in this race last year and I thought we'd take a shot at it. He's doing well, and I think if I'd run him back in for $40,000, I'd lose him, so let's give it a shot."

Sudden Surprise has worked twice at Belmont since joining the Toscano barn and has demonstrated a marked amount of professionalism.

"He's a war horse, he really is. He's a great horse to be around and easy to train and has tried with whatever we've asked him to do," said Toscano. "He's an easy horse to train and will go as fast as you want him to and as slow as you want him to go."

Luis Saez will pilot Sudden Surprise from post six.

Fleet Irish, trained by Bruce Brown, sports a record of 5-4-3 from 20 starts and will be looking for his first stakes win when bursting from post eight under Junior Alvarado. The 4-year-old Dublin colt was claimed for $20,000 last out from a winning effort when a neck the best over a mile on the mud at Aqueduct.

Loki's Vengeance, who captured the 2015 and 2016 editions of the Thunder Rumble, will make just his third start of the season on Sunday while looking to build on a fourth-place run in the Affirmed Success at Belmont. With a record of four wins and two seconds at Aqueduct, the 7-year-old Frost Giant gelding will appreciate the familiar footing. Jose Ortiz will ride for trainer Linda Rice from post four.

Winston's Chance, with eight wins from 19 starts including a last out second in the Leon Reed Memorial at Finger Lakes, ships in from upstate New York for trainer Debra Breed. Nazario Alvarado will ride from post two.

Completing the field are Benevolence, under Eric Cancel from post five for trainer Michael Tannuzzo; and Tribecca, with Manny Franco up from the inside post for conditioner Rudy Rodriguez.

The Thunder Rumble, named for the first New York-bred to win the Travers, will go as race seven on Sunday's eight-race card. First post time is 12:50 p.m.