Super Surprise lives up to her moniker in Biogio's Rose victory

by Brian Bohl

Repole Stable's Super Surprise overtook even-money favorite Isabelle out of the far turn and fended off a late charge in the stretch to win the second running of the $100,000 Biogio's Rose for New York-bred fillies and mares 4-years-old and up on Sunday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Super Surprise stayed just off Isabelle's early fractions of 24.87 seconds for a quarter-mile and 49.04 for the half. Jockey Jose Ortiz piloted the 4-year-old Giant Surprise filly to the lead at the half-mile pole, and the Todd Pletcher trainee outkicked Isabelle to win by 2 ½ lengths, completing the 1 1/16-mile inner course in 1:44.59.

Super Surprise won for the first time in three starts at the Big A and is 4-1-1 in her last six races. After starting her career as a sprinter, she now has two wins a second-place finish in three starts at over a mile.

"She's a really good filly. The last time, the other filly [Isabelle] ran her eyeballs out and she got there," said Ortiz, referring to the Bay Ridge on December 11 in which Super Surprise was the runner-up to Isabelle by 5 ½- lengths. "Today, [it was] like a match race, I felt like, and we won. [We] turned the tables a little bit. Todd always does a great job with her, and she was ready.

"I knew heading for home that we both had a lot of horse," he added. "He [Kendrick Carmouche, aboard Isabelle] was going easy and I was going easy, so by the three-eighths pole, I made my move and I'm glad it worked well. I just appreciate the opportunity. She was very good today, just perfect."

Off at 5-2, Super Surprise paid $7.00 on a $2 win bet and increased her career earnings to $462,300.

"I thought she got a good trip," said Byron Hughes, assistant to Pletcher. "The idea was for Jose to play the break and let her run into the first turn and go from there. He put her in a good spot right outside Isabelle and we got the better of her this time. Isabelle had a ground-saving trip the last time we ran into her and we went wide on the turn, but Isabelle's still a good horse and we got the good end of the deal this time."

Isabelle finished second in her 2017 debut for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Jules N Rome finished on the board for the fourth time in five starts, finishing third for trainer Rudy Rodriguez.

Daisy Cutter, Legally Bay and Dream On completed the order of finish.