Located at Finger Lakes Race Track, Farmington, NY (near Rochester)
If you are doing a double take at this lovely guy’s name, it is because we listed his doppleganger, by the same sire, earlier this year — that horse was named “Best Surprise Ever”. While the connections of these two bay sons of Giant Surprise can get into a tussle over which one truly deserves the “ever” after “Best Surprise,” we can tell you this horse, like the previously listed one, is very sweet with a great temperament, and is equally handsome with a great sport horse pedigree. The trainer kept raving about Best Surprise: ” such a good boy,”; “just a great horse to be around and work with.” She reports that he is a sweetheart who loves treats and attention, and that her young kids love him and he returns the affection (as the photo of a young girl kissing with Best Surprise attests!). She reports that he had a suspensory strain in the past, but that it healed and has not affected his racing career or overall health and happiness. He has 33 starts, with 5 wins, and 13 additional in the money finishes. But this year, in 8 races, with only three third place finishes to his credit, his trainer observes that “racing doesn’t seem to be his thing anymore.” He had last raced just over three weeks prior to our photo session, and in the interim had done nothing but walk the shedrow since they had decided it was time to retire him. So when he came out into the sunshine for his jog video, he was on the “up” side, excited to be outside and asked to move out. We saw flashes of fancy movement… and some bonus canter strides, where he dropped back on to his hind end and was very light up front. This lovebug can go in many directions for his new career — sport horse, hunter pace and trail partner…. because of his friendly loving personality, his trainer thinks that he would be a great match for a horse besotted teenage girl who wants a horse she can cuddle and have riding adventures with –but of course who has an OTTB experienced trainer to work with. Best Surprise is by Giant Surprise, who is a son of Giant’s Causeway out of an AP Indy mare. His dam is by Three Wonders, who is by Storm Cat.
Price: $2,000 negotiable — a very good home is essential
Contact: Katlynn Gutterson 585-683-9854 (text preferred)
Racing record: https://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=9706011®istry=T&rbt=TB
A PPE is always recommended. For information about on track vet practices available to do PPEs, please see the How to Buy menu tab on our website, which is linked in the post pinned to the top of our FB page.