Espresso Shot probable for Busher Invitational

Espresso Shot, winner of Saturday’s $100,000 East View Stakes for New York-bred juvenile fillies, earned herself a little R & R stint in South Florida but will most likely return to New York for the $250,000 Busher Invitational at Aqueduct on March 9.

The Busher, like the East View, is a one-turn-mile race. The Busher does offer qualifying points to the Kentucky Oaks to be run May 3 at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Jorge Abreu said that he would like to run Espresso Shot in the Busher and, if things go well there, then the Grade 3, $300,000 Gazelle, a two-turn, 1 1/8-mile race on April 6.

“I’m going to freshen her up a week or two and start training her and take it from there,” Abreu said. “I think she’s really good.”

Espresso Shot, a daughter of Mission Impazible, was really good Saturday, rallying three wide approaching the quarter pole under Eric Cancel before drawing off in the final three-sixteenths to easily defeat Shelley Ann. She ran a mile in 1:40.73 over a muddy main track and earned a 78 Beyer Speed Figure.