Hopeful

The 101st running of the prestigious Hopeful S. (G1) for two-year-olds will
be decided on Travers S. (G1) Day at Saratoga. The historic race has been won in
the past by such notables as Man o’ War, Whirlaway, Native Dancer, Buckpasser,
Secretariat, and last year’s champ, Afleet Alex (Northern Afleet).

On paper, the seven-furlong event figures to be a match race between two
undefeated colts — HENNY HUGHES (Hennessy) and FIRST SAMURAI (Giant’s
Causeway). Both are grandsons of the legendary Storm Cat, but Henny Hughes
easily rates our top choice.

Henny Hughes, who descends through his sire’s female family to the noted
broodmare T. C. Kitten (Tom Cat), has yet to be seriously tested in three career
starts. The chestnut broke his maiden at first asking by six lengths at Monmouth
Park. In his next outing, he stumbled at the start, dueled for the early lead while in hand, then
strolled to a 15-length victory in the Tremont S. at Belmont Park. In his most
recent start, sporting the silks of Darley Stable, Henny Hughes ran with the
early leaders while three wide down the backstretch, opened up a clear lead on
his own courage around the turn, quickly advanced to a seven-length advantage near
the eighth-pole under a mild hand ride, then finished up under wraps to win the
six-furlong Saratoga Special S. (G2) by 3 3/4 lengths in 1:10 1/5. Trainer
Patrick Biancone said Henny Hughes is mentally mature and “pushbutton” and that
jockey Gary Stevens can ride him anyway he wants. “He’s certainly the best horse
I’ve trained in a long time,” Biancone said earlier this week. We believe
him.

First Samurai has been totally impressive in both of his career starts. The
Frank Brothers trainee was bet down to 1-2 in a 12 horse field, dueled for the
early lead while in hand, then easily drew off to a 5 1/2-length victory at
Churchill Downs in his debut. He ran virtually an identical race here, but was
pushed on around the turn and lugged in a bit in midstretch before galloping to
a six-length victory against a tough allowance group. He reportedly came out of
the race with a minor lung infection, but has trained well since, breezing four
furlongs in a near-bullet :47 2/5 last Friday. First Samurai is a very talented
colt who should complete the exacta.

TOO MUCH BLING  (Rubiano) simply crushed three overmatched foes when
breaking his maiden by a remarkable 19 1/2 lengths at Thistledown in his last
start. That day, the gray colt ran 5 1/2 furlongs in a swift 1:03
4/5. He was subsequently purchased by Stonerside Stable and transferred to
trainer Bob Baffert and has trained well over this surface since, sizzling five
furlongs out of the gate in a bullet :59 and going five-eighths in 1:00 on
Monday. He adds first-time Lasix and could become Grade 1-placed for his new
connections with improvement.

WINNING MINISTER (Deputy Minister) finished a troubled third when pounded
down to 3-5 favoritism in his debut at Belmont Park. The dark bay colt redeemed
himself, offering a bid three wide around the turn, mixing it up in a three-way
duel in upper stretch, then securing a victory while under a hard drive going
three-quarters here in his latest. He is tactically drawn on the outside but has
class questions. TIZZYS NO SAINT (Cee’s Tizzy) finished second and third in a
pair of juvenile stakes at Calder but appears overmatched with some of these.