My Boy Tate, Bass River Road streak into Hollie Hughes Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – My Boy Tate, a winner of four straight races, and Bass River Road, a winner of seven consecutive starts, will put their streaks on the line when they head a field of nine entered in the $100,000 Hollie Hughes Stakes, the last of eight races on Monday’s Presidents Day card at Aqueduct.

My Boy Tate, trained and owned in part by Michelle Nevin, stormed through his New York-bred conditions and then galloped to a three-length victory in the Say Florida Sandy Stakes here last month. My Boy Tate earned a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure in winning the Say Florida Sandy, but Nevin believes that was a slight regression from his second-level allowance win on Dec. 9.

“I think his last race, he may have reacted a little bit off the big effort the time before, but he still went out and ran his race,” said Nevin, who owns My Boy Tate with Little Red Feather Racing. “The way he’s progressed along, I don’t see why he can’t come forward again.”

My Boy Tate, who is the co-highweight along with Celtic Chaos at 121 pounds, drew nicely in post 8 and will have Dylan Davis aboard for the second straight race.

Bass River Road, a 7-year-old gelding by Noonmark, began his winning streak in a $6,500 claimer at Finger Lakes in October 2016. Trained by Jeremiah Englehart then, he was claimed by Rudy Rodriguez for $25,000 off a win in November 2016 and went 5 for 5 for Rodriguez in 2017.

This is a step up in class for Bass River Road, whom Rodriguez said he was looking to run at Parx in a cheaper race. Rodriguez also entered Foreset, who looks to be part of the early pace from the rail.

Candid Desire and Celtic Chaos finished a neck apart when 1-2 in last year’s Hollie Hughes. Candid Desire has lost 11 straight races since then, while Celtic Chaos won restricted stakes at Belmont and Saratoga last summer.

Saratoga Giro, Gypsum Johnny, Eye Luv Lulu, and Tribecca complete the field.

KEY CONTENDERS

My Boy Tate, by Boys At Tosconova
Last 3 Beyers: 98-95-93

◗ Though he’s done his best work on the front end, My Boy Tate did stalk another horse when he won here on Dec. 9 by 9 1/4 lengths.

“He is a very reasonable horse, very rateable,” Nevin said.

◗ There looks to be ample speed in here with Foreset, Eye Luv Lulu, and Tribecca in the field.

Celtic Chaos, by Dublin
Last 3 Beyers: 86-90-82

◗ Rarely fails to fire and is always best suited by having a solid pace in front of him, which he is likely to get Monday.

◗ Bad break last out cost him early position when he finished third behind My Boy Tate in the Say Florida Sandy.

Saratoga Giro, by Girolamo
Last 3 Beyers: 91-80-80

◗ Has run two solid races over Aqueduct’s main track, including a 3 1/2-length second-level allowance win here Jan. 15 in a solid time.

◗ Has finished first or second in 14 of 22 career starts.