Be Bullish, Marriedtothemusic back at it in Affirmed Success Stakes

Be Bullish and Marriedtothemusic, the one-two finishers in this year’s Hollie Hughes Handicap, head a field of six New York-bred sprinters in Friday’s $100,000 Affirmed Success Stakes at six furlongs.

Be Bullish has won twice from three starts since reclaimed last November by David Jacobson. His only defeat at age 9 came Jan. 30, when he was nosed out by Night Maneuver after a torrid stretch duel.

Night Maneuver was claimed for $50,000 by Jacobson that day and makes his first start since then. He is 3 for 6 at Belmont, including a 99 Beyer Speed Figure earned in a win off a layoff last spring.

Be Bullish’s battle with Night Maneuver propelled him to the Hollie Hughes 18 days later, when he ran down Marriedtothemusic to win the mid-winter fixture for the second time.

“I said after [the race against Night Maneuver], he’s as good as he’s ever been,” said Jacobson, who is fresh off a second straight title at Aqueduct’s spring session. “[The Hollie Hughes] proves I was right.”

With earnings of $946,568, a win in the Affirmed Success would put Be Bullish over the $1 million mark.

Marriedtothemusic returned from a layoff in mid-winter for the late Dominic Galluscio and was never headed in back-to-back allowance wins by nearly 16 lengths. After finishing second in the Hollie Hughes in his final outing for the colorful conditioner, the 4-year-old made his first start April 3 for Linda Rice and rocketed six furlongs in 1:08.98, beating open company with a lifetime-best Beyer of 101.

“He’s pretty straightforward,” Rice said. “He’s a neat horse to be around. He trains well on a daily basis and is a pleasure to have in the barn. He’s still young and developing, so we’re hopeful [he can be a graded stakes type], but you never really know.”

Bug Juice was no match for Marriedtothemusic or Night Maneuver over the winter but might be a tougher customer this time. He was claimed Feb. 22 for $20,000 by David Cannizzo and returned quick dividends, winning an optional claimer in the slop five weeks later.

Half Nelson makes his first start since March 15, when he annexed his preliminary New York-bred condition on the 10th try for Tom Albertrani.

Weekend Hideaway, the 2012 Bertram F. Bongard winner, returns from Gulfstream Park and makes his third start of the season for Phil Serpe.