Vinery has announced last-start Saratoga winner Giant Surprise will join its New York roster at Sugar Maple Farm in 2012.

The news comes just a day after Vinery and WinStar formed a joint venture to transfer emerging young sire Bluegrass Cat from Kentucky to New York.

Giant Surprise (2c Giant’s Causeway – Twisted Sis by A P Indy) won a 1200m Saratoga maiden by four lengths on debut last month.  It was later discovered the colt fractured his left foreleg during the race.

“Giant Surprise was training as well as any of my top two year-olds,” trainer Todd Pletcher said.  “He is a great looking colt, with great conformation and a pedigree that was really meant for the classic distances.  I was amazed at the early speed he showed in training and in his impressive win.”

Raced by high-profile owner Mike Repole, he is from a half sister to stakes winner A New Twist.  Second dam Twist Afleet was a G1 winner of the Test Stakes and Top Flight Hcp.

Vinery president Tom Ludt said New York’s new casino at Aqueduct was the catalyst for the upgrade to its operations at Sugar Maple Farm.  The NYRA has increased prizemoney for Aqueduct’s upcoming winter season by $8.60 million.