NYRA/Joe Labozzetta
By Bill Heller
On January 17th at Aqueduct, trainer David Jacobson claimed Ostrolenka for $62,500 as he finished fifth at 7-1. In eight subsequent starts for Jacobson, Ostrolenka posted four seconds, two thirds, one seventh and just one win and that came in a $30,000 claimer at Monmouth Park, where Jacobson was willing to lose him for less than half the amount he had spent claiming him. On Saturday on Empire Showcase Day at Belmont Park, Jacobson and Ostrolenka hit the jackpot.
Grinding on the outside of front-running Eye Luv Lulu the length of the stretch, Ostrolenka finally passed him, winning the 40th running of the 6 ½ furlong $150,000 Hudson Handicap by a neck under Joe Bravo. Ostrolenka was 9-2 and Eye Luv Lulu, who was ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., 11-1 in the field of 10.
“I’m very happy,” Jacobson said. “He’s hard-hitting.”
Longshot Pat On the Back, who was 31-1 with Manny Franco aboard, finished just a neck behind Eye Luv Lulu in third after shifting out for a clear run in deep stretch. Celtic Chaos, who was 6-1 under Eric Cancel, finished fourth, 2 ½ lengths behind Pat On the Back.
Eric Fein bred Ostrolenka, a son of Musket Man out of Pumpkin’s Pride by Louis Quatorze who’s done his best racing at Belmont Park, posting four victories and one second from nine starts heading into the Hudson including a third consecutive second by a neck at 4-5 in an allowance/optional $100,000 claimer Sept. 21st.
Bettors had trouble separating the Hudson field, ultimately making the three-year-old gelding T Loves a Fight the tepid 3-1 favorite.
NYRA/Adam Coglianese
Eye Luv Lulu shot to the lead from the nine post. Ostrolenka broke fourth, but worked his way up to second after 22-1 Bust Another and Kendrick Carmouche checked hard. Eye Luv Lulu led Ostrolenka by one length after a first quarter in :22.82 and a half-mile in :46.16.
Then Ostrolenka pulled closer as T Loves a Fight rallied into third. In mid-stretch, Eye Luv Lulu was grimly holding on to a narrow lead on Ostrolenka as T Loves a Fight came up empty and Pat On the Back gained after shifting lanes for a clear run.
Racing in between Eye Luv Lulu and Pat On the Back, Ostrolenka gamely took over, sticking his neck in front and keeping it in front in the frantic, final yards.
“He’s had a couple of really good races,” Jacobson said. “He got beat by some really nice horses. Today, we got lucky. He made it an exciting race like he always does.”
Ostrolenka is now seven-for-31 with seven seconds, five thirds and earnings topping $620,000.
