Hopeful

The 101st running of the prestigious Hopeful S. (G1) for two-year-olds will

be decided on Travers S. (G1) Day at Saratoga. The historic race has been won in

the past by such notables as Man o' War, Whirlaway, Native Dancer, Buckpasser,

Secretariat, and last year's champ, Afleet Alex (Northern Afleet).

On paper, the seven-furlong event figures to be a match race between two

undefeated colts -- HENNY HUGHES (Hennessy) and FIRST SAMURAI (Giant's

Causeway). Both are grandsons of the legendary Storm Cat, but Henny Hughes

easily rates our top choice.

Henny Hughes, who descends through his sire's female family to the noted

broodmare T. C. Kitten (Tom Cat), has yet to be seriously tested in three career

starts. The chestnut broke his maiden at first asking by six lengths at Monmouth

Park. In his next outing, he stumbled at the start, dueled for the early lead while in hand, then

strolled to a 15-length victory in the Tremont S. at Belmont Park. In his most

recent start, sporting the silks of Darley Stable, Henny Hughes ran with the

early leaders while three wide down the backstretch, opened up a clear lead on

his own courage around the turn, quickly advanced to a seven-length advantage near

the eighth-pole under a mild hand ride, then finished up under wraps to win the

six-furlong Saratoga Special S. (G2) by 3 3/4 lengths in 1:10 1/5. Trainer

Patrick Biancone said Henny Hughes is mentally mature and "pushbutton" and that

jockey Gary Stevens can ride him anyway he wants. "He's certainly the best horse

I've trained in a long time," Biancone said earlier this week. We believe

him.

First Samurai has been totally impressive in both of his career starts. The

Frank Brothers trainee was bet down to 1-2 in a 12 horse field, dueled for the

early lead while in hand, then easily drew off to a 5 1/2-length victory at

Churchill Downs in his debut. He ran virtually an identical race here, but was

pushed on around the turn and lugged in a bit in midstretch before galloping to

a six-length victory against a tough allowance group. He reportedly came out of

the race with a minor lung infection, but has trained well since, breezing four

furlongs in a near-bullet :47 2/5 last Friday. First Samurai is a very talented

colt who should complete the exacta.

TOO MUCH BLING  (Rubiano) simply crushed three overmatched foes when

breaking his maiden by a remarkable 19 1/2 lengths at Thistledown in his last

start. That day, the gray colt ran 5 1/2 furlongs in a swift 1:03

4/5. He was subsequently purchased by Stonerside Stable and transferred to

trainer Bob Baffert and has trained well over this surface since, sizzling five

furlongs out of the gate in a bullet :59 and going five-eighths in 1:00 on

Monday. He adds first-time Lasix and could become Grade 1-placed for his new

connections with improvement.

WINNING MINISTER (Deputy Minister) finished a troubled third when pounded

down to 3-5 favoritism in his debut at Belmont Park. The dark bay colt redeemed

himself, offering a bid three wide around the turn, mixing it up in a three-way

duel in upper stretch, then securing a victory while under a hard drive going

three-quarters here in his latest. He is tactically drawn on the outside but has

class questions. TIZZYS NO SAINT (Cee's Tizzy) finished second and third in a

pair of juvenile stakes at Calder but appears overmatched with some of these.