Be Bullish bears watching

OZONE PARK, N.Y. Trainer Scott Schwartz has always held Be Bullish in high regard. But he gained even more respect for his New York-bred 3-year-old after the trip he overcame Thursday to win the Appealing Guy Stakes at Aqueduct by 3 1/4 lengths.

After getting bumped a couple of times early and nearly losing jockey C.C. Lopez, Be Bullish rallied seven wide in the stretch to win going away. What made the result even more impressive was the majority of Thursdays winners were front-running horses who raced along the inside part of the track.

The way he ran after what happened to him was amazing, said Schwartz. Just to overcome what he did, I dont know how fast he came home the last half-mile. He didnt come out of the race tired, which is the good part. It didnt really affect him.

The victory was the third in six starts for Be Bullish, a gelded son of Pure Prize. Last summer, Schwartz said Be Bullish was the best young horse he had. Be Bullish was scratched out of a maiden race at Saratoga after injuring himself in the detention barn the day he was to start.

He debuted at Belmont on Sept. 22 and won by a length at 8-1. After losing his next three starts, Be Bullish won a first-level statebred allowance while pressing the pace on Jan. 3 before Thursdays last-to-first score.

Hes a very nice horse; hes got a lot of quality, hes getting the education the hard way, Schwartz said. Any horse that can do what he did is a very nice horse. You just hope he keeps going.

Schwartz hopes there will be a spot similar to the Appealing Guy in the next condition book. And should Be Bullish run well there, he may point for the Grade 3, $150,000 Bay Shore Stakes at seven furlongs on April 5.

Joaquin Memphis right back?

Joaquin Memphis came off a five-month layoff to win a first-level New York-bred allowance on Jan. 18. On Sunday, hell climb the ladder and head a restricted second-level allowance at six furlongs.

Joaquin Memphis pressed the pace from the inside in that Jan. 18 race, got shuffled back on the turn, then came back to outfinish Gold Shamrock to win by a neck. Alan Garcia rides Joaquin Memphis from post 6 in the eight-horse field.

Fahrenheit Wild and Raceland both come back from long layoffs but look capable if ready.