The Hughes- $100.000 Purse
AQU- For Four Year Olds and Upward Foaled in NY
Six Furlongs on the Inner Dirt
February 15, 2016

Inclement weather led to the scratching of a third of the field for this years Hughes.  Suddenly, instead of six going to the post, only four were willing to contest the race over the muddy AQU main track.   However, neither of the two that did scratch out were seen as the race’s favorites in the preview, so at least we still had the top contenders.  Our pick was Dojea, the four time NY-bred stake champion who won just one of nine starts during 2015.   He would be cutting back in distance, and seemed poised to have a great chance to finally re-visit the winners circle and capture his fifth NY-bred stake. The winning time was 1:11.76.  Because of the track condition, we can not compare that race time to previous Hughes races. It is the second win in the stake for trainer Night Rider Stables, but first time he has won the race outright.  In 2012, The Worlds My Stage shared a dead heat win with Riggins Racing’s Bold Gold.  Aboard the winner was C Velasquez, also winning for the second time as he was also the jockey aboard Night Rider’s previous winner.   Here’s a look at how this race transpired:

1st- 4- Dojea (9/2)- Our eventual race winner from Night Rider Stables was happy to let Yes Its True get up there and set the opening fractions, while he went right to the back of the pack.  He would concede about five to six lengths to the leaders over the first half of the race.  As he approached the exit of the turn, he began to gradually cut into the lead, but it would not be until the final furlong did he begin his aggressive charge to the front.  Still, he had two and a half lengths to make up.  Both he and Military Art seemed to be inseparable as they advanced, but in the dying moments, Dojea somehow seemed to find an additional gear, and was very impressive to the wire to get the win!  Dojea is a five year old gelding by Swarley, and out of Unshakeable (who has some Rhythm in her if you go way back).  He was bred in New York by Night Mare Racing as a yearling, but was acquired by Night Rider Stables after just one race with his breeder, in April 2013, in a $175.000 private sale.   Congratulations to the connections!

2nd- 1- Military Art (4/1)- The Oval Express Farms entry assumed a position on the track about four lengths off the lead, third overall in the early going.  He would seem to be content to run his own race along the rail, not being bothered with what was going on ahead of him.   This where he would remain for most of the race, until just over a furlong to go.  Here, A S Arroyo seemed to go to the whip, and Military Art responded with plenty of run.  This would be needed, because Dojea was also beginning to make a move from behind him.  Along the inside, he made his move by Yes Its True and Mucho Yep, but could not answer the additional drive that Dojea had to get to the wire.  It ends up being a good second for him.

3rd- 6- Yes Its True (428/1)- Yes, those odds for the D J C Racing Stables entry are true.  The overwhelming longshot had the few that bet on him planning when they were going to go vacation for about 45 seconds, getting off to a great start, opening up by a length and a half over the backstretch, and even opening up a little as they moved into the turn.  Set the muddy opening quarter in :22.92, and half in :46.40.  He did well to hold on to this lead, and up until the furlong, even with the moves being made behind him, it seemed like they might not be able to get to him in time.  Unfortunately for the trainer, and those preparing to cash in on these odds, Yes Its True could not match the drive of his rivals late.

4th- 3- Mucho Yep (1/5)- It was pretty shocking to see that this horse, trained by Yankee Doodle Stables was made such an overwhelming favorite.  He would start decently, content to sit just off the lead a length or two over the backstretch run and into the turn.  This is where he just seemed to hang out for the duration of the race.  That was final and all until the stretch, when Dojea and Military Art began their closing push.  Mucho Yep had no response for that, and could also not make any headway on Yes Its True and would have to settle for this disappointing result.

Track: Muddy
Time: :22⁴  :46²  :58³  1:11³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 4 – 1 Paid 17.70

Scratched: Clear Blue, St Paddy Day

Claimed:
None

#4 Dojea started in PP3.
#6 Yes Its True started in PP4.
#3 Mucho Yep started in PP2.

Winner and Exacta picked by NS

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded