Espresso Shot back in New York for Busher

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Shortly after Espresso Shot won the East View Stakes here on Dec. 29, the New York-bred filly shipped to South Florida for a little rest and relaxation.

She arrived back in New York about a week ago and on Friday she put in her final workout in advance of a start in open company in next Saturday’s $250,000 Busher Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Espresso Shot, working at 7:45 a.m. over the Belmont Park training track, went five furlongs in 1:02. It was her fourth work since the East View, the other three coming at the Palm Meadows training center.

“I only gave her three weeks off and I breezed her a couple of times,” trainer Jorge Abreu said from South Florida. “She breezed really well.”

Abreu noted that Irad Ortiz Jr. breezed Espresso Shot five furlongs in 1:01.65 on Feb. 22.

The Busher will certainly be a stern test for Espresso Shot as she is expected to take on stakes winners Oxy Lady, Please Flatter Me, and Ujjayi, as well as Shelley Ann, It Justhitthe Wire, and possibly Always Shopping.

“I know she can handle the mile and I know she likes Aqueduct, I just want to see where we are against open company,” Abreu said.

Divine Miss Grey in ‘Heavenly’ drill

Divine Miss Grey completed preparations for the $150,000 Heavenly Prize Invitational on March 10 by working four furlongs in 47.60 seconds over Belmont’s training track Friday morning.

Divine Miss Grey, who won last year’s Heavenly Prize by 6 3/4 lengths, will be making her first start since she finished second in the Falls City at Churchill Downs last Nov. 22.

Manny Franco, who was aboard Divine Miss Grey when she won the Grade 2 Chilukki last Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs, will ride her in the Heavenly Prize.

Others scheduled to run in the Heavenly Prize include Forever Liesl, Midnight Disguise, Road to Victory, Sara Street, and Total Control.