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Hogy makes the grade in Hanshin Cup

Supplemental entry Hogy fulfilled his connections' faith with victory in the Hanshin Cup (Four Footed Fotos) William Stiritz's Hogy settled behind the dueling leaders of Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Hanshin Cup at Arlington Park before drawing even with the pair rounding the turn and pulling off a 1 1/2-length victory over Mister Marti Gras despite drifting out in the lane. With jockey Chris Emigh in the irons, the Scott Becker trainee was worth $18.40, $8 and $5 as the 8-1 sixth pick in the nine-horse field. Hammers Terror and Nates Mineshaft headed to the front when the gates opened, with the latter getting the first quarter in :23 1/5 before Hammers Terror took a head advantage through the half-mile in :47 3/5 and the three-quarter mark in 1:09 4/5. All the while, Hogy was biding his time about four lengths behind the pair before beginning to move up on the outside exiting the backstretch. Those three raced in tandem on the turn but Hogy easily shook loose and began drawing off. The gelded son of Offlee Wild floated toward the grandstand as Mister Marti Gras closed fast from near the rear, but held that rival to finish up a mile on the Polytrack in 1:34.25, just off the track record of 1:33.55. "We knew there were a couple of speed horses in it and this race was wide open," Emigh said. "I got in the perfect spot where I wanted to be on the outside and he started dragging me turning for home."

Hammers Terror was another 5 3/4 lengths adrift of Mister Marti Gras.

"My horse ran good, but he needed two turns," said jockey Eduardo Perez, who rode the runner-up. "He was running good (at the top of the stretch), he never stops."

Seruni, the 5-2 favorite, just held fourth by a three parts of a length over Patrioticandproud on the wire. Hattaash came next while Night Party, All Stormy and Nates Mineshaft completed the order of finish. Scatman was withdrawn.

"I was in the one-hole and he prefers to be on the outside," noted Mike Smith, who was aboard the beaten favorite. "We were trying to work our way out the whole time. I finally got out, but by then they got into a really good pace and they flew home ahead of us. They must have been close to the track record."

Hogy earned his first graded victory in the Hanshin Cup, and previously scored in a couple of stakes events at Canterbury and Turf Paradise the past couple of years. He placed in a trio of listed races in 2012, including the Straight Line over track and distance, and rallied to be just 2 1/4 lengths back in sixth in the Shakertown on Keeneland's turf prior to the Hanshin Cup.

The dark bay four-year-old, who came to Becker's barn after being claimed last November at Hawthorne, has proven to be a smart purchase by his connections. Supplemented to the Hanshin Cup, he added the winner's share of $86,400 to his earnings and now boasts $332,802 to go along with a 16-9-2-2 career mark.

Bred in Kentucky by Dr. John E. Little, Hogy is the first registered foal out of the Petionville mare Floy. His female family has also produced dual Grade 2 victor Charitable Man and this year's Risen Star nose second Code West, who is headed to the Belmont Stakes on June 8.

Hogy's fifth dam is Broodmare of the Year Too Bald, making him a relative to multiple Grade 1-winning sires Broad Brush, Capote and Exceller.

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