HENNY HUGHES (Hennessy) recorded his third straight convincing win when
capturing the Saratoga Special S. (G2) by 3 3/4 lengths early in the Saratoga
meet, and the unbeaten colt appears to have scared away his rivals in Saturday’s
$250,000 Hopeful S. (G1). Purchased for more than $4 million
following his 15-length score in the Tremont S. two starts back, Henny Hughes
has drawn lofty praise from trainer Patrick Biancone and will face only four
opponents in Saturday’s seven-furlong event.
Gary Stevens rides the likely odds-on favorite in the 101st Hopeful.
FIRST SAMURAI (Giant’s Causeway), a 5 1/2-length debut maiden winner at
Churchill Downs and a six-length allowance winner at Saratoga in his second-career outing, will challenge Henny Hughes. Jerry Bailey will guide the Frank
Brothers-trained colt. TOO MUCH BLING (Rubiano), a 19 1/2-length maiden winner
at Thistledown, will make his first start for trainer Bob Baffert in the
Hopeful.
In post parade order, the Hopeful entrants are Too Much Bling, Javier
Castellano; First Samurai; TIZZYS NO SAINT (Cee’s Tizzy), Cornelio Velasquez;
Henny Hughes; and WINNING MINISTER (Deputy Minister), Richard Migliore.
All starters will carry 120 pounds.