Davis picks the right mount, rides Shidabhuti to Busher Stakes win

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - When it came to Saturday’s $200,000 Busher Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct, jockey Dylan Davis had to decide between the flashy debut winner Ziaerati and the two-time winner Shidabhuti.

Though Shidabhuti was the seemingly lesser-regarded entrant from her own stable - and sent off as the fourth choice in a field of six - she proved to be the right choice for Davis, who guided Shidabhuti to two-length victory in the Busher.

Asset Purchase, the 4-5 favorite, who like Shidabhuti is trained by Chad Brown, opened up a two-length lead in midstretch, had to settle for second, 1 1/4 lengths in front of Capella. Ziaerati, an eight-length debut winner under Davis on Jan. 15, faded to fourth after dueling with Asset Purchase. La Vita Sofia and Check Engine Light completed the order of finish.

Shidabhuti, a daughter of Practical Joke owned by Peter Brant, is now 3 for 3. She earned 50 qualifying points toward the May 5 Kentucky Oaks.

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Davis said while Ziaerati, trained by Robert Falcone Jr., was an impressive winner, “she never had anything against her,” Davis said. “[Shidabhuti] has run a little bit more. They’re both good trainers, but I thought this one would be the better choice. … I’m just happy I picked the right one.”

Over a sealed, muddy surface, Shidabhuti was in the second flight, outside of Capella and La Vita Sofia, but never more than two lengths off a modest pace.

When Check Engine Light came outside of Shidabhuti entering the far turn, Davis had to ask his filly to keep up with that one.

It took a little while for Shidabhuti to find her best stride, but when she did she moved into second in upper stretch. Meanwhile, Asset Purchase had put away Ziaerati and opened up a seemingly clear lead under Manny Franco.

Davis persevered on Shidabhuti while keeping her several paths away from Asset Purchase and ran by that one late.

“Like her last race it took her a while to get running, to build that momentum up and she was able to finish it off,” Davis said. “Again today, I had to ride her a little early, but once we straightened up again, maybe around the eighth pole, she found her stride again.”

Shidabhuti covered the mile in the mud in 1:39.03 and returned $12.60 to win.

Brown praised Davis for using “good judgment on Shidabhuti to stay close and they weren’t going really fast,” Brown told the NYRA publicity department. “He put her in the clear in the stretch and he timed it just right.”

Brown said that, in hindsight, Franco, on Asset Purchase, should have tried to open up on the field a little earlier.

“He kept her restrained and kept the rest of the field in the race,” Brown said. “But she still gave a good effort.”

Brown said Shidabhuti is a likely candidate for the Grade 3, $250,000 Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct on April 8.

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