Belmont: Mine Over Matter turns tables on Saginaw in Hudson

ELMONT, N.Y. - Mine Over Matter had proven no match for the red-hot Saginaw in two previous encounters but turned the tables in Saturday’s New York Showcase card at Belmont Park when he rallied to a one-length victory over the odds-on favorite in the $150,000 Hudson Stakes.

Mine Over Matter is a homebred son of Mineshaft owned by trainer Mike Hushion’s long -time clients Chester and Marty Broman Sr. With Ramon Dominguez aboard for the first time, Mine Over Matter raced well placed behind the early leaders into the stretch, eased out for clearance once settling for the drive, and then wore down Saginaw in the final furlong.

Saginaw, whose only setback in his last nine starts had come in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap, did not have the best of trips in the six-furlong Hudson. Saginaw steadied back to last after the start, rushed four wide to join for command approaching the stretch, edged to command near the furlong grounds, but was unable to fend off the winner’s closing surge. Shrewd One ranged up three wide outside the leaders to loom a major threat near midstretch but could not sustain the bid and finished another neck farther back in third.

Sportswriter, Neatie the Cat, Dr Disco, Ground Force, and Smokin Hero completed the order of finish.

Mine Over Matter covered the distance in 1:10.20 over a good track and paid $15.

“He came into the race very well,” said Hushion. “Some people thought it was ambitious but he’s been the brightest horse in the barn the last couple of weeks and he ran back to that today.”

Hushion said he knew he needed a little help to beat Saginaw in the Hudson.

“I was hoping he [Saginaw] wouldn’t run his `A’ game at us again today,” said Hushion. “I don’t know what happened to him after the break. He had a terrible trip.”