OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Mike Hushion usually doesn't make big plans for his horses right after they win a stakes, but there is something about Papua, who won Sunday's Hollie Hughes Handicap at Aqueduct for his fourth consecutive win, that has Hushion thinking big.
"I usually look for spots where I'm 6-5, not 65-1," Hushion said with a laugh the morning after Papua recorded his first stakes win by defeating Impeachthepro by three-quarters of a length in the restricted Hollie Hughes.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Statement kept his perfect record at Gulfstream Park intact Monday by splitting horses under Eibar Coa and out-sprinting Baseball Champion to the wire to win Wednesday's featured $42,000 allowance race by 1 3/4 lengths. It was three-quarters of a length back to Honor in War in third.
The fourth-level allowance race saw the U.S. debut of No Excuse Needed, a multiple Group 2 winner in Europe. But No Excuse Needed was never really involved and finished fifth, beaten six lengths.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Senor Swinger, unbeaten in two starts, drilled six furlongs in 1:11.80 Sunday morning in preparation for the Florida Derby on March 15. It was the fastest of three works at the distance.
According to trainer Mickey Goldfine, Senor Swinger broke off in company with a stablemate and pulled away at the quarter pole.
"It was just him, he did it pretty easy," said Goldfine, who had exercise rider Derek Sturniolo up for the move. "The kid wasn't pushing on him, and he galloped out good."
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - An apparent lack of other speed, a stretch out in distance, and the presence of Jerry Bailey rate Goosey Gander a slight edge in Wednesday's featured third-level allowance race at Gulfstream Park.
The 1 3/8-mile turf race, which drew a field of nine, is one of the few bettable races on a nine-race card that includes four six-horse fields and two seven-horse fields.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - The connections of Great Notion, winner of the $75,000 Southwest Stakes here Saturday, are considering three races for the colt's next start: the $125,000 Rebel here or the $500,000 Lane's End at Turfway Park, both March 22, or the $500,000 Arkansas Derby on April 12.
"No firm decisions have been made," said Darrin Miller, who trains Great Notion for Silverton Hills Farm.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Sira can go with the flow Wednesday in the featured ninth race at Oaklawn Park. She can control the pace if she gets the jump on Idadidit at the start, but if she doesn't, she can come from behind. So said trainer Donnie Von Hemel.
"If [Idadidit] is going to show that much speed, we don't necessarily have to go with her," said Von Hemel. "[Sira] will be forwardly placed, but she doesn't have to be in front."
ALBANY, Calif. - Six runners are listed as definite for Saturday's $200,000 Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields.
Ministers Wild Cat and Winning Stripes, who finished one-two in the Golden State Mile Feb. 9, will headline the 1 1/16-mile race.
Also scheduled to run are Crackup, Mr. Technique, Ocean Terrace, and Ozzie Cat. The unbeaten Ocean Terrace was added to the field after a six-furlong workout in 1:12.80 at Santa Anita Saturday.
Trainer Bobby Frankel said Peace Rules is being seriously considered for the race.
Prince Slew ($26.20) picked an opportune time to recapture his best form. Sunday night at Delta Downs, he drove to a head win over favored Oak Hall in the $150,000 Gold Cup, a one-mile race restricted to 3-year-olds and up bred in Louisiana.
The win was Prince Slew's first since June 2001.
Prince Slew covered the one mile over a fast track in 1:39.27.
Win's Fair Lady broke sharply, sped to the front, and ran away from 10 overmatched rivals, winning the $50,000 Wayward Lass by 10 lengths. La Nina Dancer was second by another 7 1/4 lengths.
Win's Fair Lady ran the 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares in 1:43.94 and paid $4.40.
Sunland Park, N.M. - In a race that Sunland Park officials hope was a prevue of the inaugural $500,000 WinStar Derby, Mr. Decatur battled Excessivepleasure through the stretch before taking a slim advantage near the wire to win Sunday's $104,100 . Mr. Decatur, owned by Heiligbrodt Racing Stables and trained by Steve Asmussen, stalked Excessivepleasure under Sal Gonzalez Jr. through a 45.14 half mile before bidding two wide. Excessivepleasure, with Ricardo Jaime up, dug in gamely to set up an exciting stretch duel.