Aqueduct: Galluscio looks to strike while iron is hot with Marriedtothemusic in Hollie Hughes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The up-and-coming Marriedtothemusic will take on several established and consistent New York-bred sprinters in Monday’s $100,000 Hollie Hughes Stakes at Aqueduct.

Since returning from a near-five-month layoff, Marriedtothemusic has recorded two sharp front-running allowance wins over Aqueduct’s inner track, most recently coming within .03 of a second of the track record for 5 1/2 furlongs. That was the second race in a 13-day span for Marriedtothemusic, trained by Dominic Galluscio for Dutchess Views Farm.

Galluscio said he stopped on Marriedtothemusic last August after he had run three hard races during the Saratoga meet, winning one, and finishing second twice. Though this will be Marriedtothemusic’s third race in 31 days, Galluscio sees a different horse.

“The races haven’t shown on him. He’s carrying very good flesh, eating tremendously; probably weighs 80 pounds more than he did last summer. He really filled out,” Galluscio said.

Noting that Marriedtothemusic ran an extremely fast race winning a statebred second-level allowance Jan. 31, Galluscio said, “he won pretty easy that day. Cornelio [Velasquez] never had to get into him. The time was fast but time is relative, right?”

With Velasquez scheduled to ride Palace in Monday’s General George Handicap at Laurel Park, C.C.Lopez, who does his best work on speedy types like Marriedtothemusic, has the call, breaking from the rail.

Trainer David Jacobson entered three horses in the Hollie Hughes, including Be Bullish, who is making his fifth appearance in this race. Be Bullish, now 9, won it in 2011 and finished third in it in 2009 and 2012-13. Jacobson also entered Notmyfirstime – coupled with Be Bullish – and Johannesburg Smile.

Jacobson had Be Bullish in his barn from November 2012 to July 2013 before losing him at the claim box for $25,000 and re-claiming him for that same price in November. In two starts since, Be Bullish has a win and a nose loss.

“He’s doing as good as he’s ever done for me,” said Jacobson, who has Taylor Rice named to ride from post 2.

Notmyfirstime may have enough speed to keep Marriedtothemusic honest in the early stages. Notmyfirstime posted lifetime best speed figures when beaten a neck by Hackleton on Feb. 8. Though he is running back in nine days, Jacobson said he thinks that may actually be a plus since other horses may have been compromised by three days of lost training this week. Eddie Castro rides Notmyfirstime.

Jacobson also entered Johannesburg Smile, whom he claimed for $100,000 on Dec. 4. Johannesburg Smile is winless in four starts at six furlongs, but was only beaten a half-length in the Grade 3 Toboggan here last winter.

With the presence of Marriedtothemusic, Notmyfirstime, and Mid-Atlantic shipper Freudian Dilemma, Jacobson said “there might be enough pace to set it up for” Johannesburg Smile. The same could be said for Mine Over Matter, who makes his first start since last Oct. 19 when he was fourth in the Hudson Handicap.

◗ Jockey David Cohen underwent surgery on his broken right leg Friday night. Prior to the operation, doctors told Cohen he would be out a minimum of six months. Cohen was injured when the horse he was scheduled to ride here Feb. 1, kicked him as he was about to climb aboard.

◗ The $100,000 Stymie Stakes, lost when Saturday’s card was canceled due to inclement weather, has been rescheduled for next Saturday. It will be re-drawn Monday.