Hushion remains master of Hollie Hughes
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - There's something about the that brings out the best in trainer Mike Hushion.
Hushion captured his fifth Hollie Hughes on Monday when Rereadthefootnotes outbroke the speedy Smokin Hero for the early lead and cruised to a 3 1/2-length victory over Smokin Hero in the $65,000 stakes race for New York-bred sprinters at Aqueduct. It was two lengths back to Mor Chances, the 6-5 favorite and defending Hollie Hughes champion.
Hushion previously won this stakes three years in a row with Papua (2003-05) and in 1998 with Thepromonroe.
It remains to be seen if Rereadthefootnotes becomes as accomplished as Papua, who won 14 races and earned $700,324. But the 4-year-old Rereadthefootnotes is certainly in raging form, winning for the third time in his last four starts and fifth of eight overall.
Breaking from post 3 under Ramon Dominguez, Rereadthefootnotes spurted clear of 6-5 favorite Smokin Hero, opening up a one-length advantage through an opening quarter in 23.32 seconds then extended his lead from there. He ran a half-mile in 46.48 seconds and covered six furlongs in 1:09.93. He returned $4.80 as the second choice.
"He's really like a Quarter Horse out of there,'' Dominguez said. "A lot of times you have horses that quick out of the gate that are hard to rate - they're kind of speed bullets - that's not the case with him at all. Obviously, he's got a lot of natural speed, but in terms of rating he's excellent to take a hold of and he'll do anything you want. We were fortunate to get away with a pretty slow first quarter, but I was very pleased with the way he picked it up from the three-eighths pole home.''
Hushion took over the training of Rereadthefootnotes last fall and the horse has seemed to improve with each start.
"He's just gotten into a regular campaign," Hushion said. "I think he's leveled off at this age a little bit and we got a handle on what he needs."
Hushion did not know what he would do next with Rereadthefootnotes.
"I didn't look past this race,'' Hushion said. "The Hollie Hughes is always my favorite race of the year.''