The $200,000 Busher Stakes for 3-year-old fillies came up light, and that’s bad news for the five Kentucky Oaks (G1) hopefuls entered in the 1-mile race.
The Busher is traditionally an important step on the New York Road to the Oaks. The winner was slated to receive 50 valuable qualifying points toward a starting spot in the companion event to the Kentucky Derby (G1).
When only five wound up in the entry box, the number of available points shrunk. Under the “Championship Series” rules, a race with only five runners awards only 75% of the listed points. That translated into 37.5 points for the winner.
And it could get worse. Both Paradise (the 7-5 morning-line favorite) and Blazing Brat (10-1) were also entered in the $225,000 Davona Dale (G2) on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. If either one remains in Florida, the Busher would be left with four runners, and the points reduction becomes a punishing 50% with only 25 points to the winner.
So, let’s focus on the fillies committed to the race. Trainer Whit Beckman entered both Blazing Brat and Nycon in the Busher. With Blazing Brat a Davona Dale possibility, Nycon (3-1) is Beckman's surest Busher bet. And she is our top choice.
After rallying for fourth in her debut going 7 furlongs at Keeneland, Nycon stretched out to a mile and cruised to a maiden victory in the mud at Churchill Downs. Remaining at a mile, the same distance as the Busher, Nycon ran second, beaten only a neck, in the Cash Run Stakes on New Year’s Day at Gulfstream.
There’s a lot to like here. She is proven over three different racing surfaces, can handle it fast or wet, and is versatile enough to press the pace or rally from behind. Regular rider Jaime Torres will be aboard.
“She’s coming off a pretty big effort at Gulfstream. She got a little sick out of that, but she has come back great,” Beckman said. “We’d like to run her a little further but timing wise we are going to try this spot and see where she ends up. We know she is a filly that belongs in the Oaks conversation, who we’d probably give a two-turn test in her next start.”
The role of likely favorite could go to Interstatelovesong (8-5) following a game defeat in Aqueduct’s Ruthless Stakes. She battled through every inch of the 7 furlongs and lost by only a neck while posting brilliant speed figures.
“Race circumstances probably played against her a little bit last time,” trainer Tom Morley said. “She’s got a fabulous mind. She’s very rateable, very tractable and she’s also fast.”
For the handicapper, there are several concerns starting with the fact that Interstatelovesong has never gone beyond 7 furlongs. She might have the brilliance to handle more distance, but backers will likely find a very short price riding on the outcome.
The other is the possibility of a “bounce,” a regression after posting a dramatic speed figure increase. Sometimes it can’t be replicated.
And then there is the Chad Brown factor. Even though the trainer has the bulk of his potent stable in Florida, he is still knocking out Big A winners at almost a 30% clip from a small number of runners. He is sending up Current Yield following her debut win at Tampa Bay Downs at 6½ furlongs.
“Her debut at Tampa wasn’t that fast, but she had the rail in a sprint and had to be pushed the whole way,” Brown said. “She’s a route horse. She really doesn’t want to be on the lead doing all that. She’s a very talented horse, I think. I’ll try to stretch her out in this race and see where she takes us.”
There you have it for the small but select Busher.
The picks: 1 Nycon 2 Interstatelovesong 3 Current Yield
1 Nycon (Jaime Torres, Whit Beckman), 3-1
2 Current Yield (Jaime Rodriguez, Chad Brown), 6-1
3 Paradise (Manny Franco, Brad Cox), 7-5
4 Blazing Brat (Joe Ramos, Whit Beckman), 10-1
5 Interstatelovesong (Ricardo Santana, Jr., Tom Morley), 8-5
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
