Gold and Roses is a veteran of Aqueduct’s inner track, where he entered Saturday’s 30th running of the $81,325 Hollie Hughes with two wins, four seconds and a third in 10 start over the Big A’s winter racing surface.

Apparently frustrated by those runner-up finishes, the 9-year-old Gold Token gelding took the race to six other New York-bred and managed to post the 10th race of his 34-race career.

Naturally, it didn’t come easy.

With Stormin Normandy and Premium Wine scratching out of the Hollie Hughes in favor of Monday’s Presidents’ Day feature at Laurel – the Grade 2, $300,000 General George at seven furlongs – Gold and Roses had a chance to come out swinging against Whistlin’, who broke from post 2. Gold and Roses, who had not drawn outside of post 6 in his last 12 starts, broke from post 8

From the outside, jockey Rajiv Maragh shot Gold and Roses to the lead, where was confronted inside by 1-2 post-time favorite Whistlin’. Neither horse was going to give up and they slugged it out on the fast track through a first quarter of :22.94., a half of :45.73 and five furlongs of :58.02.

While Whistlin’s jockey, Jermaine Bridgmohan, was whipping and driving on the rail, Maragh seemed always in control. Gold and Roses took one sharp tap Maragh’s right-handed stick, surged and came up with the three-quarter-length victory in 1:10.83.

“That was probably his best race since Saratoga,” said Seth Gregory, son of Gold and Roses’ owner, Henry C. Gregory. “We knew that once Stormin Normandy came out, we would have to go and keep Whistlin’ company. I didn’t expect them to be in front after the first few hundred yards; I just wanted him to be attending the pace. He’s a very game horse and always tries hard. The biggest difficultly we have had over the last four or five months has been racing luck. He finally found the right group at the right distance with the right post position.”

The victory, worth $7.90 to the $2 win players in the crowd of 3,586, ended a six-race losing streak for Gold and Roses. His last win came August 2 in Saratoga’s overnight John Morrissey.

“We had an outside post this time,” said Maragh, who rode Gold and Roses for the second time. “I was able to dictate where I wanted to be this time. Once he broke so sharp, I took advantage of that. I tried to get over to the rail and keep Whistlin’ in my hands. The post helped me a lot. He’s a fighter and turned out to be a great horse race. Whistlin’ ran great, too.”

Prince of Peace was a length and a half back in third, followed by Good Card, Seeking the Glory and Indian Camp.