Something Special Racing’s Grade 1 winner Hog Creek Hustle will attempt to return to top form in a highly-competitive allowance event on Friday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.
“The Hog,” as he is affectionately known around the stable area, scored a come-from-behind victory in last year’s $400,000 Woody Stephens at Belmont Park, which gave trainer Vickie Foley her first Grade 1 win. The now 4-year-old son of Overanalyze will attempt to turn his form around following an eighth-place finish in the $350,000 Count Fleet Sprint (G3) and a well-beaten third-place effort in the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Mile (G2). Hog Creek Hustle is the 4-1 favorite in the main body of the race.
Friday’s Race 7 allowance event drew a solid field of 12 sprinters with four horses on the also eligible list. Among those on the also eligible list is Phoenix Thoroughbred and Three Chimney Farm’s potential future star Volatile, who earned a stout 107 Brisnet Speed Rating in his 7 ½-length allowance win at Oaklawn.
“It’s one of the toughest allowance races I’ve ever seen,” said trainer Wes Hawley, who entered recent Oaklawn Park allowance winner Absolutely Aiden in the seven-furlong event. “I knew it could probably draw a tough field but this is incredibly strong.”
Friday’s card gets underway at 1 p.m. Post time for Race 7 is 4:08 p.m. Free Brisnet past performances can be found on www.churchilldowns.com/handicapping.
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