Japan gets first stakes win in Easy Goer

ELMONT, N.Y. – A few days before Japan’s debut in February at Gulfstream Park, trainer Mike Hushion opined that he thought very highly of the 3-year-old colt. The next day, Hushion was admitted to a hospital, suffering from leukemia, and when Japan made his debut 48 hours later, he flopped, finishing sixth.

Both are doing a lot better now. Japan earned his second straight win and his first in a stakes race when capturing the $150,000 Easy Goer to kick off Belmont Stakes Day on Saturday at Belmont Park. Afterward, owner Barry Schwartz said Hushion was doing so well that he was visiting the barn several days a week here in New York and might be ready to return to regular work by Saratoga.

“It’s been a long, long, nightmarish journey,” Schwartz said in the winner’s circle. “They say the first five weeks are critical, and he had intense chemo, but he’s at the barn a few days a week now, even though he’s still undergoing treatment.”

While Hushion is recuperating, Japan was turned over to trainer Bill Mott, for whom he won a maiden race at Churchill Downs on April 30.

The Easy Goer originally had a field of five, but Donworth and the longshot Combat Diver were scratched, leaving a field of three, with the other two runners – Nonna’s Boy and Stanford – trained by Todd Pletcher.

Nonna’s Boy stumbled leaving the gate but got to the front soon thereafter and set all the fractions until deep stretch. But then Japan closed from last to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths over the favored Stanford, who beat Nonna’s Boy by a neck for second.

Japan ($6.10), the second choice, completed 1 1/16 miles on a track rated fast in 1:42.14 under Junior Alvarado. He has won twice in four starts.

“Bill told me before his last race he had no idea what he was doing, and then when he put it together, he’d be something,” Schwartz said.

He’s starting to put it together.