Loki's Vengeance gives Hushion shot at seventh Hollie Hughes win

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Mike Hushion will be looking for his seventh victory in the Hollie Hughes Stakes on Saturday at Aqueduct when he sends out Loki’s Vengeance against eight others in the $100,000, six-furlong stakes restricted to New York-breds.

Hushion’s first Hollie Hughes winner came in 1998 with Thepromonroe. He then won three straight with Papua (2003-05) and then won it again with Rereadthefootnotes (2010) and Captain Serious (2015).

“It’s fun,” Hushion said. “I wouldn’t say it’s pride.”

Loki’s Vengeance, a 6-year-old son of Frost Giant, is a four-time stakes winner. In November, he returned from a fourth-month layoff to gallop to a 7 1/4-length victory in a division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series going seven furlongs over Aqueduct’s main track.

“I would say it was a surprise,” Hushion said. “I didn’t know if he’d get in a speed duel and if he would handle that going seven-eighths.”

However, 23 days later, he finished seventh behind Stallwalkin’ Dude on a muddy track in the Gravesend.

Rajiv Maragh will ride Loki’s Vengeance from post 5.

The Hollie Hughes field includes Full of Mine, Celtic Chaos, Drama King, Candid Desire, Bust Another, West Hills Giant, Bond Vigilante, and Bustin It.