The Todd Pletcher trained KARAKONTIE 2-year-old Sunrise impressed on Saratoga’s closing weekend Sunday with a Maiden Special Weight victory going 1 1/16 miles on the turf.
Giving the leader a one length advantage early, Sunrise creeped up to engage in a duel down the backstretch, sticking with the front runner until the stretch. That runner faded, but Sunrise was going to be challenged nearly every step of the way with another runner taking up the pressure. Sunrise was pushed all the way to the line to win by a head in a determined victory.
🌅 Sunrise breaks his maiden at second asking in R9 at Saratoga!
Todd Pletcher trains and @RSantana_jr was up. pic.twitter.com/pyCKUyQaCf
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) August 31, 2025
It was the second start for the colt owned by Harrell Ventures, who was sold from Gainesway’s Keeneland September consignment last year for $150,000.
Bred by Gainesway as well, Sunrise is out of the Unusual Heat mare Spanish Bunny. Spanish Bunny has made a name for herself with KARAKONTIE as the dam of his Grade 1 winner Spendarella and stakes winner and Grade 2 placed Spanish Loveaffair. The mare is also the dam of Grade 1 winner Spanish Queen. In all, Spanish Bunny has five winners from eight to race.
Spanish Bunny is the dam of a Gainesway-offered filly by Justify as Hip 133 at next week’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale.