Breakin the Fever outfights Weekend Hideaway in Hudson Handicap

ELMONT, N.Y. – In a battle of wet-track-loving sprinters, Finger Lakes-based Breakin the Fever outfinished 2-5 favorite Weekend Hideaway to win Saturday’s $150,000 Hudson Handicap for New York-bred male sprinters by a half-length at sloppy Belmont Park.

Breakin the Fever, a 4-year-old gelding by Roaring Fever, improved his record to 14 for 24. He is 5 for 5 in the slop, a streak that includes a 9 3/4-length maiden score at Belmont in September of his 2-year-old season.

“I was very happy with the rain,” said Debra Breed, the owner and trainer of Breakin the Fever. “He loves mud.”

Weekend Hideaway was 4 for 6 in the mud. One of his losses was a third-place finish, beaten just two lengths, in the Grade 1 Vosburgh three weeks ago.

In the Hudson, Breakin the Fever, under Nazario Alvarado, leapt up and hit the side of the gate. But he quickly recovered and took a short lead from Weekend Hideaway a furlong into the race.

Breakin the Fever set an opening fraction of 22.84 seconds and appeared to open up a length on Weekend Hideaway three furlongs in.

Weekend Hideaway, under Luis Saez, battled back along the inside, and at the eighth pole, he appeared poised to take the lead. But Breakin the Fever, getting six pounds from the favorite, battled back and edged clear in the final 20 yards.

Weekend Hideaway finished second by 7 3/4 lengths over Drama King. Candid Desire finished last. Ostrolenka scratched.

Breakin the Fever covered the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.97 and returned $8.30 as the second choice.

“Today, he broke in the air and almost fell down, but I had good balance and came back into the saddle,” Alvarado said. “I put him on the lead, but I didn’t want to go too fast.”

Breed said Breakin the Fever had been behind horses early in a race before, so she wasn’t too concerned about the slow break.

“He’s got a lot of guts, and he puts himself out there,” Breed said. “He’ll run as hard and as fast as he can.”

Phil Serpe, the trainer of Weekend Hideaway, offered no excuses.

“It was a great race, it looked like we got in front of him at the eighth pole,” Serpe said. “My hat’s off to the other horse.”