Ostrolenka rewards trainer's patience in Hudson Handicap

ELMONT, N.Y. - Ostrolenka had been little more than a source of frustration for trainer David Jacobson since claiming him for $62,500 back in January. From eight starts, Ostrolenka had one win and four seconds, including neck losses in two of his last three starts.

The script was flipped for Jacobson on Saturday as Ostrolenka, under Joe Bravo, chased pace-setting Eye Luv Lulu for the last half-mile before passing him late to win the $150,000 Hudson Handicap by a neck on New York Showcase Day. It was another neck back to Pat On the Back in third.

The win was the seventh from 31 starts for Ostrolenka, who three years ago won the Sleepy Hollow Stakes on New York Showcase Day when in Todd Pletcher's barn.

Jacobson said he claimed Ostrolenka because “he was a big, good-looking horse, New York-bred that maybe we’d get lucky and win a stakes with one day.”

At Monmouth, in June, Ostrolenka finished second to El Deal in the Decathlon Stakes at Monmouth. El Deal came back to win the Grade 1 Alfred G Vanderbilt at Saratoga.

Ostrolenka came back to win an allowance race before finishing second in his next three starts.

“Every race he’s run for me has been a great race, there’s nothing to change when you’re running as good as he was,” Jacobson said. “We were very high on him today. He came into the race perfect, looked like a million dollars in the paddock and Joey rode a perfect race.”

Eye Luv Lulu, under Irad Ortiz Jr., broke on top and ran an opening quarter in 22.82 seconds. Ostrolenka was sixth early, but quickly moved into second.

“Probably would have been a little bit farther back, but they were going so easy on the front end he was just there naturally,” said Bravo, who also won the Iroquois for female sprinters aboard Absatootly.

Ostrolenka followed Eye Luv Lulu through a half-mile in 46.16 and kept pursuing before catching him 20 yards from the wire.

Ostrolenka, a 5-year-old son of Musket Man, covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.75 and returned $11.60 to win.

Irad Ortiz Jr., on Eye Luv Lulu, said his colt broke so well that “I took the lead. He fought until the end. He never gave up.”

Eye Luv Lulu held off Pat On the Back, who was followed in the order of finish by Celtic Chaos, T Loves a Fight, Weekend Hideaway, Candid Desire, Gold for the King, Sudden Surprise, and Bust Another.