NYRA/Adam Coglianese
Chester and Mary Broman’s homebred Mine Over Matter got the better of Saginaw – winner of eight of his last nine races – at Belmont Park on Showcase Day when he overtook the odds-on favorite in the stretch of the $150,000 Hudson Stakes at odds of 6-1.
Content to sit a few lengths off the pace as Smokin Hero, Neatie the Cat and Dr Disco did battle up front and led the field of eight into the far turn, Mine Over Matter split horses to join the second flight in the turn, advancing into fourth by the top of the stretch.
Saginaw, who was uncharacteristically spotted near the back of the pack early on and rushed up to join the leaders, gained the lead in upper stretch, but Mine Over Matter angled out into the four path with one furlong to go, edged up and took over in the final sixteenth, drawing off to a one length victory.
The final time for six panels over the good going was 1:10.20. Saginaw finished a neck clear of Shrewd One who closed well into third. Sportswriter, Neatie the Cat, Dr Disco, Ground Force and Smokin Hero completed the order of finish.
Winning jockey Ramon Dominguez, who had the riding assignment for the first time aboard the 5-year-old chestnut son of Mineshaft, said, “Initially I was laying a little bit closer than what I was envisioning. I thought they would have run away from me a little bit more, but I was happy with the fact that he was relaxed where he was. Around the three-eighths pole when I had to ask him a little bit to save my spot, he jumped onto the bridle. Right then and there I realized that I had a lot of horse, and sure enough when I angled out turning for home he finished up pretty nicely.”
NYRA/Adam Coglianese
Mike Hushion, the winning trainer said, “Some might have thought it was an ambitious spot, but he had been doing so well heading into the race. In four or five weeks, we’ll maybe look for another New York-bred race for him. The Bromans are the nicest people in the world; anytime you can win a race and make them smile, it’s a good day.”
The Hudson is the second stakes victory of the year for Mine Over Matter who took Aqueduct’s Fabersham Stakes in the slop in his second start of the year on April 22. In 2012, he also collected a pair of third place finishes in the Affirmed Success at Belmont and John Morrissey at Saratoga. Previously he had won the Salute Me Sir and placed in five additional state-bred stakes. His record now stands at 6-3-9 from 34 starts with a robust $368,184 in purse earnings.
Mine Over Matter’s dam is Hansel’s Girl, a Grade 2-placed five-time winner by Hansel (Woodman) purchased by Chestertown Farm in 1996 as a Keeneland September yearling for $80,000. After earning $237,980 for the Bromans on the racetrack, Hansel’s Girl has had a productive career as a broodmare, with all three of her winners earning stakes credentials – Mine Over Matter, Chestertown Slew, by Seattle Slew ($171,826), and Motor Patrol by Cherokee Run ($148,633). Hansel’s Girl currently has a yearling filly by New York sire Noonmark.
