Goldsvillle keeps Hushion rolling

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Goldsville's workmanlike victory in Saturday's was the sixth victory from seven stakes starters this year in New York for trainer Mike Hushion.

Hushion's previous stakes wins on this circuit came with Tidal Dance (Affectionately and Ladies), Rereadthefootnotes (Hollie Hughes), Lights Off Annie (Broadway), and Shine Upon (Dreamy Mimi). Hushion's only stakes loss in New York came when Lights Off Annie finished second in The Wheel Turns.

Goldsville won the Exclesior by three-quarters of a length over Nite Light. Goldsville pressed the pedestrian pace set by Seniors Pride before taking the lead at the eighth pole and persevering to the wire under Ramon Dominguez in his first try at 1 1/8 miles.

"Those paceless races are always a little scary," Hushion said. "Sometimes the best horse doesn't win. He really didn't want to be on the lead. Leave it to Ramon to be in the right place, laying second."

Dominguez told Hushion he believes Goldsville will be more effective when able to come from off the pace.

"Ramon said he thinks in the future he will run better with a good pace in front of him and coming from a little farther off the pace," Hushion said. "He's very rateable."

Hushion didn't have anything picked out for Goldsville's next start. Races in his division in New York are limited to a mile or 1 1/2 miles until the Grade 2, $300,000 Suburban Handicap - now shortened to 1 1/8 miles - on July 3 at Belmont Park.

Hushion did say that Tidal Dance could make her next start in the Grade 2, $150,000 Shuvee Handicap, a one-turn mile race at Belmont on May 15.

Carter 1-2 runners starting a rivalry

Warrior's Reward and Musket Man, separated by noses at the finish of Saturday's could see a lot more of each other in the near future.

Ian Wilkes, trainer of Carter winner Warrior's Reward, has already shipped his horse back to Churchill Downs where a start in the $250,000 Churchill Downs Stakes at seven furlongs on Derby Day is the likely next target. Derek Ryan, the trainer of tough-luck loser Musket Man, also mentioned the Churchill Downs race as a possible next start for his horse.

Both horses could then come back 30 days later in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap, a one-turn mile race at Belmont on May 31. That race is expected to be the next start for Quality Road, the Donn Handicap winner.