Elsa Lorieul Photo

My Boy Tate seeks second Hollie Hughes score

by NYRA Press Office

My Boy Tate will look to turn the tables on Arthur's Hope in the $100,000 Hollie Hughes, a six-furlong sprint for New York-breds 4-years-old and up on Monday's Presidents' Day card at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained, bred and co-owned by Michelle Nevin, with Little Red Feather Racing, My Boy Tate returned off a 13-month layoff to win the NYSSS Thunder Rumble on November 24 at the Big A, but was off-the-board last out in the Say Florida Sandy, won by returning-rival Arthur's Hope.

"He didn't break well and the track wasn't playing to his favor that day which had him at a disadvantage," said Nevin. "He's doing well coming into this race, so hopefully he can turn it around."

A five-time winner from seven starts at the Big A, including scores in the Say Florida Sandy and Hollie Hughes during a five-race win streak in 2018, My Boy Tate will turn back in distance after making his last two tries at seven-eighths. Nevin said the 6-year-old Boys At Tosconova gelding, who is 4-2-1-0 sprinting six furlongs, has a will to win.

"He's done a little bit of everything on the Aqueduct track. He's been on the pace and come from off the pace - he's a versatile fellow," said Nevin. "He shows up at both distances, so I'm not worried about the turn back."

My Boy Tate breezed a bullet half-mile in 48 flat on February 12 during a solo effort on the Belmont dirt training track. He will emerge from the inside post under Manny Franco.

Raul DelValle's Arthur's Hope, trained by Marco Salazar, leads the eight-horse field with 12 wins from 26 starts. Bred by Monhill Farm, the 6-year-old Smart Bid chestnut launched his career in Panama under the tutelage of Roberto Arango where he won 8-of-11 starts.

He made his U.S. debut a winning one, besting a New York-bred allowance sprint by 2 ½-lengths at Belmont Park on May 12, 2018, and has hinted at ability since including a 100 Beyer Speed Figure earned when annexing a Parx allowance tilt in May.

Last out, with Kendrick Carmouche up for the first time in the Say Florida Sandy, Arthur's Hope led gate-to-wire to earn his first stakes score. Carmouche retains the mount from post 8.

Michael Dubb's Eye Luv Lulu, trained by Jason Servis, is the leading money earner in the field with $910,799 on the back of a 55-11-14-8 record. The 9-year-old Pollard's Vision gelding has plenty of back class, including a score in the 2018 Affirmed Success at Belmont which was followed by a third in the Grade 2 Belmont Sprint Championship Stakes.

Bred by Donald Newman, Eye Luv Lulu will make his seasonal debut under Big A leading rider Jose Lezcano from post 7.

Amundson, trained by Horacio DePaz for Barry Schwartz, returns off a near three-month layoff from an off-the-board effort in the City of Laurel on November 30 at Laurel Park.

The 4-year-old Curlin gelding, bred by Stonewall Farm, graduated at second asking in June on a sloppy Delaware main track. He added an allowance win in September at Belmont and followed up by showing significant potential with an 8 3/4-length score on October 18 at Belmont that garnered a 94 Beyer.

Jorge A. Vargas, Jr. will pilot Amundson for the first time from post 4.

Rounding out the field are Morning Breez [Eric Cancel, post 2], Binkster [Dylan Davis, post 3], P J Advantage [Oscar Gomez, post 5], and Cerretalto [Reylu Gutierrez, post 6].

The Hollie Hughes is slated as Race 8 on Monday's nine-race card. First post is 1 p.m. Eastern.