Bossanova fresh from Florida

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - You wouldn't expect to see the Fall Highweight winner and second-place finisher running in a New York-bred stakes at Aqueduct in the winter, but you will Sunday in the $75,000-added Hollie Hughes Handicap.

, who won last year's Hollie Hughes, by a half-length in the Grade 3 Fall Highweight over Aqueduct's main track Nov. 27. In the six-furlong Fall Highweight, Bossanova carried 128 pounds, four fewer than Papua. In the six-furlong Hollie Hughes, they will each carry 122 pounds.

On paper, the Hollie Hughes is a two-horse race. Bossanova and Papua, the probable first and second choices in the betting, meet seven others.

Bossanova, who also won the Mike Lee Stakes at Belmont Park and was second in the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs last year, hasn't run since the Fall Highweight. He has been in training at Palm Meadows in Florida since Jan. 1 with trainer Jim Bond.

Bond, who is using the Hollie Hughes as a stepping-stone to the Grade 1 Carter on April 10, said Bossanova has one gear.

"It's go, go, go," Bond said. "Pace is everything with him. At six furlongs he is a dynamite horse; beyond that is uncharted waters. He's been doing great, and because he has been training in Florida we have had the luxury of not missing any training time with him. I figured this race was a good spot rather than staying in Florida and meeting some very tough horses so early in the year."

Javier Castellano rides Bossanova, who couldn't have drawn a worse post - 9 - for all his speed.

Much to the chagrin of Papua's trainer, Mike Hushion, Bossanova was unchallenged for the early lead in the Fall Highweight and was allowed to set reasonable fractions.

"If the other speed horses concede Bossanova the pace, he will be tough to catch," Hushion said.

After the Fall Highweight, Papua returned in the Grade 3 Gravesend on Dec. 21 and finished fifth behind top sprinter Shake You Down.

Mike Luzzi replaces Richard Migliore on Papua, who drew post 2 and is 4 for 6 on the inner track.

A One Rocket, Sunnyridge Sam, and Unswept figure to be dogging Bossanova down the backstretch, but Bossanova is probably quicker and might outsprint them.

Impeachthepro finished second to Papua in last year's Hollie Hughes and moves up over a wet track. Wonderful Prospect and Love Less were the one-two finishers in a starter allowance race here two weeks ago.