Paradise notches commanding Busher victory

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Cross-entered between Aqueduct and Gulfstream on Saturday, Brad Cox decided that the best path forward for Paradise led north to the $200,000 Busher Stakes. That decision has transformed the last-out maiden winner into a Kentucky Oaks contender.

“We bounced around a few races between the Davona Dale [at Gulfstream], the Honeybee [at Oaklawn], and the Busher,” Cox said. “That's where we landed, the Busher. I guess it was a good call.”

In her first start against winners, Paradise powered past front-runners Current Yield and Interstatelovesong on the far turn and never looked back. After securing a stalking trip from third, jockey Manny Franco had little to do in the stretch as Paradise pulled away to a 3 3/4-length victory, completing the mile in 1:38.53.

“I saw the first time she ran, she didn't have to be on the lead,” Franco said. “That's what I did, I rode her with confidence. I knew I had a good horse under me, so I rode her with confidence and it paid off."

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Because the Busher field only featured five horses, qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks were cut to 75 percent. Still, for a filly who entered the year as a one-start maiden, her 37.5-point haul in February is no small feat. She paid $4.72 to win, having earned respect from bettors ahead of her stakes debut.

Interstatelovesong, runner-up in the $135,000 Ruthless on Feb. 6 for Tom Morley, went for the early lead again in the Busher, but she could not hustle past the Chad Brown-trained filly Current Yield on the rail. The pair vied for command through an opening quarter-mile in 23.38 seconds and half-mile in 46.75.

Interstatelovesong eventually wore down Brown’s second-time starter on the outside and briefly led, but she was no match for Paradise when the Cox filly hit the stretch. Flagging at the very end, she also yielded to Nycon, who closed fast to steal second by a neck and secure 18.75 Oaks points for trainer Whit Beckman.

For her fading third, Interstatelovesong earned 11.25 qualifying points. Current Yield and Blazing Brat, far behind at the wire, picked up 7.5 and 3.75 points for fourth and fifth.

Firmly in command while the also-rans scrapped for the remaining points, Franco was highly encouraged in his first race aboard Paradise. In her maiden victory at Gulfstream on Jan. 4, jockey Edgard Zayas took her straight to the front, but Franco’s patient ride at Aqueduct proved just as effective.

“She’s versatile,” Franco said. “She can do whatever you want. She can be on the lead or sit close, and when you ask her, she’s there for you.”

Cox still has plenty of work to do before carrying on with his filly, but watching from Florida, he saw nothing to suggest that she could not stretch farther than a mile.

“After the wire, she flipped her ears up,” Cox said. “I have yet to talk to Manny post-race, but I don't see a reason to not give her an opportunity around two turns and make a march toward the Oaks.”

The trainer mentioned the Grade 3 Gazelle at Aqueduct as a logical next start on April 4.

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