Affirmed Success draws competitive group

ELMONT, N.Y. – It drew half as many runners as a year ago, but Friday’s $100,000 Affirmed Success Stakes still has the look of an intriguing betting race without a standout among the six runners.

The 8-year-old Weekend Hideaway will be making his fifth start in the Affirmed Success, a race restricted to New York-breds despite the fact Affirmed Success was a Kentucky-bred who won 10 stakes and earned $2.2 million in a 42-race career.

Weekend Hideaway is making his 45th career start and is coming off a third-place finish in an open-company allowance race at Gulfstream Park going seven furlongs on March 31.

“He was taking a little longer to get fit, we were trying to get a race at six, and it didn’t happen,” said Lisa Bartkowski, the assistant to trainer Phil Serpe and the exercise rider of Weekend Hideaway since he was a 2-year-old. “Considering he dueled for the lead, I thought he held on pretty well. I was perfectly happy with him.”

Weekend Hideaway breaks from the rail under Luis Saez in the Affirmed Success and is the co-highweight at 124 pounds along with Caledonian.

Caledonian is a 4-year-old son of Concord Point who has not started since finishing last of six in the Grade 3 Bay Shore at Aqueduct 54 weeks ago. Trainer John Terranova wasn’t sure he was going to run Caledonian until the horse worked a solid five furlongs in 1:01 last Saturday at Belmont.

“Based on the way he breezed the other day, I’m excited that he’s back,” Terranova said. “It seemed like a decent spot. He’ll get a bit of pace in there; he should come running late.”

Eric Cancel rides from post 3.

Eye Luv Lulu, making his 44th career start, was beaten a neck by Celtic Chaos in this race last year after setting the pace. Also in the race is Pat On the Back, who finished a neck behind Eye Luv Lulu when the two ran second and third behind Ostrolenka in last year’s Hudson Stakes.

Trainer Linda Rice sends out the uncoupled entry of Loki’s Vengeance and Gypsum Johnny.

The Affirmed Success goes as race 5 on a nine-race card that begins at 1:30 p.m. Eastern.

KEY CONTENDERS

Eye Luv Lulu, by Pollard’s Vision
Last 3 Beyers: 87-97-81

◗ Turning back from seven furlongs to six should be a plus for this gelding, who was beaten one length two starts back by the streaking My Boy Tate.

“I’m glad My Boy Tate’s not in there,” trainer Jason Servis said.

◗ Likely the horse to catch under Irad Ortiz Jr.

Weekend Hideaway, by Speightstown
Last 3 Beyers: 87-80-80

◗ Had post 12 when beaten three-quarters of a length while fourth in this race a year ago.

◗ Breaks from the rail Friday and will likely have to be sent away from the gate to gain early position.

“I think we have to get him out of there and get running,” Bartkowski said. “If Eye Luv Lulu runs past him we’ll let him go.”

Caledonian, by Concord Point
Last 3 Beyers: 58-81-72

◗ Won two open-company sprint stakes as a 3-year-old before going to the sidelines with bone bruising last spring.

◗ Returns from a 384-day layoff for Terranova, who has gone 2 for 3 this year – and 4 for 17 the last three years – with horses returning from a layoff of greater than 180 days.