Henny Hughes tackles 10 foes in King's Bishop

Last updated: 8/24/06 8:34 PM

Grade 2 hero HENNY HUGHES (Hennessy) will make his second appearance of the
year in Saturday’s $250,000 King’s Bishop S. (G1), and the Kiaran
McLaughlin-trained colt will face a strong group of 10 rivals in the
seven-furlong event. Winner of the Saratoga Special S. (G2) last year, Henny
Hughes recorded runner-up finishes in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), Champagne
S. (G1) and Hopeful S. (G1) before wintering in Dubai. He opened 2006 with a
sharp 10-length victory in the Jersey Short Breeders’ Cup S. (G3) at Monmouth
Park, and he’ll likely go favored with new jockey John Velazquez on Saturday.

“We’re here to win a Grade 1 and the horse deserves a Grade 1,” McLaughlin
said. “His owner (Zabeel Racing International) has let us do what we need to do
with the horse and that’s great. Believe me, this is a special horse and it’s
quite a privilege to have a horse like him in the barn.”

Songster has yet to finish worse than second in his career
(Debra Kral/Horsephotos.com)

Woody Stephens Breeders’ Cup S. (G2) and Hirsch Jacobs S. (G3) winner
SONGSTER (Songandaprayer) is a top contender. The black colt finished second as
the odds-on favorite in the Amsterdam S. (G3) early in the Saratoga meet, a race
Tom Albertrani said Songster needed. He’s a threat to deliver an improved
showing in the King’s Bishop with regular rider Edgar Prado.

“Henny who?” joked Albertrani. “Obviously, he’s the horse to beat, but it’s
going to be a good race. He’s got a lot of speed and we’ve got a lot of speed.
Our horse can handle seven furlongs and between the two it should be pretty
memorable.”

A blistering early pace could set up things once again for the late-running COURT FOLLY (Royal
Academy), who registered his first stakes victory when upsetting Songster from
far off the pace in the
Amsterdam. The Ian Wilkes pupil drew clear to a 1 1/2-length decision, and jockey Calvin Borel
will be back to pilot him again.

Peter Pan S. (G2) runner-up LEWIS MICHAEL (Rahy) is cross-entered to
Saturday’s St. Louis Derby, but he merits serious respect if conditioner Wayne
Catalano elects to visit the Spa. The bay colt exits an 8 1/4-length thrashing
over allowance foes at Arlington Park, turning a mile in 1:34 while winning
under wraps, and he may appreciate the cutback in distance. Florida shipper MACH
RIDE (Pentelicus) captured the Valid Video S. two starts back and finished
second in the Carry Back S. (G2) most recently at Calder for trainer Steve
Standridge, while STAR DABBLER (Saint Ballado) posted an impressive
allowance/optional claiming win last time out and will bring a two-race win
skein into the King’s Bishop for conditioner Michael Hushion.

West Coast invader QUIETLY GO (Real Quiet) will lead the post parade under a
117-pound impost that includes Eibar Coa. Next comes Henny Hughes, 121; MASTER
OF DISASTER (Dance Master), Ramon Dominguez., 119; Court Folly, 121; Star
Dabbler, Rafael Bejarano, 117; Songster, 121; LAPTOP COMPUTER (Notebook),
Garrett Gomez, 117; Lewis Michael, Rene Douglas, 119; GARIBALDI (Golden
Missile), Fernando Jara, 119; Mach Ride, Javier Castellano, 119; and EL NINO
(Storm Cat), Cornelio Velasquez, 117.